Endowed Scholarship Fund - Football

MELVIN P. RUCKER '83 and E. RAY RUSHTON IV '83
MEMORIAL FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP
Represented  Thomas E. Gottwald '83 of Richmond, Virginia.
 

                    
Melvin Rucker '83                                   E. Ray Rushton IV '83

The Melvin P. Rucker '83 and E. Ray Rushton IV '83 Memorial Football Scholarship was established in 1993 by the Class of 1983 to honor their Brother Rat Rucker, who died in 1987. It was amended to also honor their Brother Rat Rushton, who died in 2004. The scholarship assists a rising Third Classman on the VMI football team who demonstrated the ability to make a significant contribution to the program during his Fourth Class year.

Rucker matriculated at VMI from Bluefield, West Virginia, and earned a BA degree in economics. A quiet and respected leader in the class, he was also an outstanding football player. He was twice named All-Southern Conference and led the Keydets in tackles for two consecutive seasons.

Rucker was the recipient of the Henry Fairfax Ayers '06 medal in 1982 as the most valuable player during his First Class year.

He died on August 11, 1987. He was posthumously inducted in the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

Eugene Ray Rushton IV ’83 matriculated at VMI from Charlottesville, Virginia. Like his Brother Rat Rucker, he graduated from VMI with a bachelor of arts degree in economics. A three-year letterman, Rushton was a two-year starter at linebacker in 1981 and 1982.

He was third on the 1981 squad in tackles. His senior season was cut short when he suffered a knee injury at midseason (against Virginia) and finished with 63 tackles on the season.

After graduation from VMI, Rushton spent his career with Davenport & Company in Charlottesville, Virginia. He died on December 26, 2004.

Rucker and Rushton were one of the best linebacker duos in VMI’s history. Pictured beside each other in the 1983 BOMB, the two will forever be remembered by the Class of 1983 and VMI football fans for their outstanding performances on the gridiron that included road victories over Army and Virginia Tech.

Cadet Daud A. Semalulu '11 (Football) is recognized in the name of
the Melvin P. Rucker '83 and E. Ray Rushton IV '83 Memorial Football Scholarship
for the 2007-08 school year.