Endowed Scholarship Fund - Unrestricted

COL. ROYCE EARL JONES '55
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Represented by Mrs. Margaret Jones Tait of Lexington, Virginia.

Royce Jones '55
 

The Col Royce Earl Jones '55 Memorial Scholarship was established by his widow, Margaret Jones Tait and family to provide scholarship assistance to deserving cadet-athletes, with preference given to an athlete who involves himself/herself faithfully in programs that enrich the spiritual life of the Corps of Cadets.

Jones matriculated at VMI after graduating from Hampton High School, where he had been co-captain of the 1950 state championship football team. He lettered on VMI's varsity football and track teams. He was also a talented musician, and played trombone for the VMI Commanders and was a first lieutenant in Band Company.

He served as class vice president and was a member of the General and Executive Committees. He graduated with a BS degree in biology.

He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1955-63. In 1961 he joined the faculty at the Norfolk Academy where, over the next 18 years, he was athletic director, science and English teacher, summer camp director, football and track coach, and friend and mentor to hundreds of young men and women. His football teams compiled a record of 93-57-7, and he was recognized twice as Metropolitan Coach of the Year by the Norfolk Sports Club.

He return to VMI in 1979 as executive vice president of the Keydet Club, and a year later was named VMI's director of cadet affairs. He remained in this position until his death in July 1995.

Col. Jones' leadership and his commitment to the Institute were consistently evident through his service on numerous administrative committees, councils and boards, including his tireless labors as the superintendent's advisor to the Honor Court.

Throughout his adult life, Jones served faithfully as Sunday School member and teach, church deacon and choir member.

Cadet Emilio Calvin '11 (Football) is recognized in the name of the
Col. Royce E. Jones '55 Memorial Scholarship for the 2007-08 school year.
He is pictured above with General and Mrs. Tait and her daughter and grandson.