UA trainer scholarships announced
Posted on Friday, October 31, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Razorback football players from two eras have endowed scholarship funds to honor the athletic trainers they credit for their gridiron success.
On Saturday, five University of Arkansas students will be the first to receive scholarships from the Dean Weber Endowed Scholarship in Athletic Training and the Bill Ferrell Endowed Scholarship in Athletic Training.
Since attending their 25 th reunion in 2004, members of the 1979 football team built up a $ 53, 846 endowment to honor Weber that includes gifts and pledges.
Weber, who was the Razorbacks head of athletic training for 35 years, is in his first year as UA’s equipment operations director.
The 1979 team’s effort inspired a group of former athletes and lettermen, known as the Razorback A Club, and Jim Lindsey to start an endowment for their own beloved athletic trainer, the late Bill “Groundhog” Ferrell who was Arkansas’ trainer from 1950-67.
Lindsey, a member of the 1964 National Championship football team and now chairman of the UA board of trustees, agreed to match whatever the club raised.
“The $ 220, 000 for the Bill Ferrell scholarship fund was raised in less than six weeks,” said Danielle Strickland, a UA spokesman. The club raised $ 110, 000 and Lindsey chipped in the other half.
Lindsey credits Ferrell’s “powerful presence” for the Razorbacks winning 22 straight games and the national championship by virtue of their 10-7 victory over Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl.
“He was not only a great trainer, he was also every player’s friend and father confessor,” Lindsey said in a news release.
The athletic trainer scholarships can be used starting in January, Strickland said. The Weber scholarships are $ 618 each and the Ferrell scholarships $ 725 each.
Robyn Meyers of Wausaukee, Wis., will get both scholarships. Students who will receive Ferrell scholarships are: Austin Kerkhover of Chester, Ill.; Takao Kondo of Kumamoto, Japan; Sheena White of Jackson, Miss.; and Anna McCain of Paris, Texas.
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