Endowed Scholarship Fund - Non-Revenue Sports

 JAMES M. DILLARD '56
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP
Represented by Mr. Dillard of San Diego, California.

James M. Dillard '56

The James M. Dillard '56 Athletic Scholarship was established in 2006 in conjunction with Mr. Dillard's 50th Class Reunion. The Scholarship will be used to provide grant-in-aid for a cadet-athlete who (1) is an upperclassman, and (2) originally was a “walk-on” and, because of performance, has earned this grant-in-aid. Preference will be given to a cadet (a) who is a member of a VMI Division I non-revenue athletic program, (b) who has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and (c) who is pursuing a degree in engineering, the sciences or mathematics. The same cadet may be granted aid from the Scholarship as long as he or she remains eligible.

According to the Donor’s wishes, the Scholarship will provide grant-in-aid totaling $8,000 each year until such a time as the Scholarship’s assets have been depleted. If, because of additional contributions to the principal and capital appreciation, the Scholarship’s assets have grown to the point where more than $8,000 can be provided according to the Keydet Club’s prevailing endowment spending factor policy, then the greater amount will be provided for grant-in-aid.

James Malcolm Dillard matriculated at VMI from Roanoke, Virginia, following graduation from Mercersburg Academy. He graduated in the Class of 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. A Distinguished Student in his Third Class Year, Dillard was a member of the American Institute of Physics, which he served as president in his First Class Year, and a member of the VMI Glee Club for three years.

Dillard was a runner for the VMI Track and Field team all four years of his cadetship, and lettered in his Third, Second and First Class years. In his First Class year, under the direction of Coach Cormack, the Cross Country Team lost only one meet in the regular season, won the Big Six title, and lost the Southern Conference title to William & Mary by one point.

After graduating from VMI, Dillard served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958-1962. He earned his master’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dillard retired from Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. He and his wife Frances live in San Diego, California. They have three sons, Jim, Tim and Tom, and a daughter, Joanne.

 

Cadet Jonathan M. Pope '10 (Wrestling) is recognized in the name of the James M. Dillard '56 Athletic Scholarship for the 2007-08 school year.