Scholarships
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SCHOLARSHIPS CHARLIE CONERLY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Ole Miss football stand- Conerly earned three letters at Ole Miss, playing in 1942, in Jackson, and a replica is on display at Ole Miss in out Charlie Conerly was an 1946 and 1947, earning All-America honors his senior Hollingsworth-Manning Hall, the school's athletics memora- unassuming man – never season and All-SEC accolades twice. He interrupted his bilia area located on the second floor of the Michael S. one to blow his own horn. undergraduate career to serve with the U.S. Marines in World Starnes Athletic Training Center. He rarely celebrated after War II. To learn more about the endowment, including details scoring a touchdown. He After graduation, Conerly joined the NFL’s New York about making a tax-deductible contribution, contact the would simply hand the ball Giants, leading them to the 1956 NFL Championship. He was University of Mississippi Foundation at 1-800-340-9542. to the referee and trot to named 1948 NFL Rookie of the Year and the League’s Most the sideline. Valuable Player in 1959. Conerly ended his career in 1961 - University Communications “Charlie was a shy man,” with 1,418 career completions, including 173 touchdown said New York Giants team- passes. His Giants number 42 was retired in 1962. “Charlie mate Frank Gifford. “He had an incredible arm and a great feel for the game,” said didn’t want to stand out. He didn’t even like trophies. He was Gifford. “He was a tremendous athlete, and by the end of his very sensitive about receiving praise.” career, he was a sports hero for New York.” Perian Conerly Off the field, Conerly also remained reserved. Perian Conerly authored “Backseat Quarterback” (Doubleday 1963), detail- said that her late husband wouldn’t understand why the Charlie ing the couple's experiences during his professional football Conerly Memorial Athletic Scholarship at the University of years. After retiring, Conerly and his wife returned to Mississippi was named in his honor, but he would be thrilled Mississippi, and they often traveled to Oxford on football about the opportunity the scholarship provided. weekends. “Charlie never would have gone to college without his Conerly’s honors include induction into the National football scholarship at Ole Miss,” she said. “That opportu- College Football Hall of Fame, Mississippi Sports Hall of nity changed his life.” Fame, Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame, and Ole Miss Athletic One of the greatest football players ever to wear an Ole Hall of Fame. He also received the Distinguished American Miss uniform and a beloved alumnus, Conerly will be remem- Award from the Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football bered for generations to come through the Charlie Conerly Foundation and College Hall of Fame and was selected by Memorial Athletic Scholarship. The $100,000 endowment Rebel fans as a back on the Ole Miss Football Team of the was set up by his wife for deserving student-athletes. Century. As a college player, Conerly was also named the “The endowment is a widow’s mite when compared to Atlanta Touchdown Club’s SEC Back of the Year and the other donations, but it’s a very important scholarship for Nashville Banner's SEC Player of the Year. future players,” she said. A prestigious trophy named in his honor, the Cellular A Clarksdale, Miss., native, Conerly passed away Feb. 13, South Conerly Trophy, is awarded annually to Mississippi’s 1996, after a lengthy illness. Affectionately known as most outstanding collegiate football player. Designed to be Chunkin’ Charlie, the former quarterback thrilled Ole Miss the Mississippi equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, the award fans as he led the Rebels to their first Southeastern is open to all Mississippi players, regardless of school size Conference Championship in 1947 and a victory over Texas or position. The original bronze sculpture is permanently Christian University in the Delta Bowl. housed in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum CONERLY TROPHY Awarded annually to Mississippi’s top collegiate football player PAST RECIPIENTS OLE MISS WINNERS 1996 Tregnel Thomas, Delta State 1997 Stewart Patridge, Ole Miss 1998 James Johnson, Mississippi State 1999 Deuce McAllister, Ole Miss 2000 Josh Bright, Delta State 2001 Eli Manning, Ole Miss 2002 Rod Davis, Southern Miss 2003 Eli Manning, Ole Miss 2004 Michael Boley, Southern Miss Stewart Patridge, 1997 Deuce McAllister, 1999 Eli Manning, 2001 & 2003 2005 Jerious Norwood, Mississippi State 2006 Patrick Willis, Ole Miss 2007 Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss 2008 Juan Joseph, Millsaps College 2009 Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State 2010 Chris White, Mississippi State 2011 Austin Davis, Southern Miss 2012 Bo Wallace, Ole Miss 2013 Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State 2014 Dak Prescott, Mississippi State Patrick Willis, 2006 Bo Wallace, 2012 198 SCHOLARSHIPS J.W. “WOBBLE” DAVIDSON SCHOLARSHIP Embry Memorial Scholarship Fund, established to help student-athletes at The University of Mississippi. “I think Joey would be really proud of the scholarship fund,” said his mother, Gwen It’s a funny thing about sports and nicknames. They seem to Embry, “not because it is honoring him, but because it will help so many other students.” go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s quarterbacks named “Easy” or line- Embry’s roommate and fellow teammate Bobby Killion, a former Ole Miss center, said, “Joey men named “Slim”, a nickname follows you for the rest of your life. touched the lives of so many people while having an influence on those who came in contact with Such was the case with J.W. “Wobble” Davidson. him. He was a great man and is missed by a lot of people. I know I’ll miss him for the rest of my Never one to let the spotlight hit him, Davidson spent three life.” years playing left end for Ole Miss, before returning to his alma Embry left a strong impression on the Ole Miss community, providing leadership both on and mater as an assistant coach. He gave up the idea of playing pro off the playing field. As a business administration major, he excelled academically, making the football to enter the Marine Corps to fight in World War II. He never UMAA Honor Roll and the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He also was active in the Fellowship of thought twice about it. He never even left Oxford, returning after the Christian Athletes (FCA). war to spend his days at the place he called home. In addition to the scholarship fund, Weyerhaeuser Co. donated equipment to Ole Miss’ Davidson’s love for Oxford and his alma mater proved just as Starnes Athletic Training Center in memory of the Ole Miss football player. great in his family life as it did in his professional life. A proud father Individuals and organizations can contribute to the Joey Embry Memorial Scholarship Fund of two, Wobble, his wife Sara, son Don and daughter Debra all attended Ole Miss. Davidson spent through The University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677; phone 11 years as head tennis coach and 23 years as the M-Club Advisor, mentoring student-athletes 800-340-9542; e-mail [email protected]. into productive members of society. He and his family even lived in the athletic dorms on campus. It was his love for Ole Miss that the J.W. “Wobble” Davidson Scholarship fund was estab- WESLEY WALLS SCHOLARSHIP lished. Given to the children of former Ole Miss letterwinners, the scholarship helps make sure that those who love the University as much as Wobble will always have the opportunity for their children Former Ole Miss All-America tight end Wesley Walls of to attend Ole Miss. Pontotoc, Miss., and his wife, Christy, have endowed a football Davidson graduated from Ole Miss in 1942, earning three letters in football, three in track scholarship at Ole Miss. and two in basketball for the Rebels. A member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Ole The $100,000 gift is used to provide a football scholarship to Miss Sports Hall of Fame, Davidson also earned his master's degree from Ole Miss. any Ole Miss signee from Pontotoc County. To learn more about the J.W. “Wobble” Davidson Scholarship Fund, including details about Walls, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Carolina Panthers of the making a tax-deductible contribution, contact Clay Cavett at the UM Alumni Office at 662-915-7375. National Football League, enjoyed a 14-year NFL career, playing with San Francisco and New Orleans prior to joining the Panthers. LARRY L. JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP He retired in 2004 after one season with the Green Bay Packers. “I received so much from Ole Miss, not only an education and Larry L. Johnson of Jackson wants to help young men benefit a chance to play college football, but also as a person,” Walls said. from the same opportunity in life he received: a football scholarship “I met my wife here and we truly love Ole Miss and her people. This to the University of Mississippi that enabled him to participate in the scholarship represents a way to come back and help Pontotoc County. There are a lot of good sport he loved while pursuing degrees for a successful career. athletes over there.” The retired BellSouth executive - whose football career at At Ole Miss, Walls earned four letters and excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Forest High School in Scott County captured the attention of UM He came to Oxford in 1985 as a defensive end, but also played tight end his senior campaign coaches - has established a scholarship endowment with more than when he became one of the nation’s few two-way players in 1988.