Alumnus gives more than $500,000 for scholarships
Without the scholarship I received to Austin Peay State University in 1947, I could not have done what Ive done, said Hendricks Fox of the Bellevue area of Nashville. Ive had a successful life, and I want to give back to help someone else.During half-time of the APSU vs. Eastern Kentucky University football game on Saturday, Nov. 10, Fox put his money where his mouth ispresenting APSU President Tim Hall with a check for more than a half million dollars to establish the Fox Endowed Scholarship for football scholarships.
鈥淲ithout the scholarship I received to Austin Peay State University in 1947, I could not have done what I've done,鈥 said Hendricks Fox of the Bellevue area of Nashville. 鈥淚've had a successful life, and I want to give back to help someone else.鈥
During half-time of the APSU vs. Eastern Kentucky University football game on Saturday, Nov. 10, Fox put his money where his mouth ispresenting APSU President Tim Hall with a check for more than a half million dollars to establish the Fox Endowed Scholarship for football scholarships.
Hall said, 鈥淭he opportunity to play college football brought Hendricks Fox to Austin Peay. But when he graduated, he took with him a great education that has served him well for many years as well as his wife of 53 years, the late Gladys Qualls Fox.
鈥淢r. Fox is showing his appreciation to Austin Peay in a tangible way so, on behalf of the students who will be able to attend Austin Peay because of his largesse, I thank him.鈥
After graduating from APSU in 1951, Fox served 27 months with the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea. When he returned to civilian life, Fox taught health, physical education, mathematics and social studies and coached football for seven years at Nashville's now-defunct North High School before serving another 29 years as assistant principal in Nashville. After he retired in 1989, he went to work as a security guard for Aladdin Industries until it closed in 2002.
Fox played football at APSU during 1947-50 under famed coach Dave Aaron. Assisted by his late wife, Gladys, Fox was among a group of former Aaron players, called the Dave Aaron Founding Fathers, who started reuniting several years ago during Homecoming to raise funds for a scholarship endowment in Aaron's memory. The Dave Aaron Endowment, at more than $250,000, is one of APSU's largest endowments.
According to Fox, his wife of five months, Michele, has joined in the cause, assisting him in contacting former players about returning to APSU for the Dave Aaron Reunion during Homecoming. At this year's Homecoming, 73 former Aaron players were present.
Michele also influenced Fox's decision to make a gift to Austin Peay. Fox said, 鈥淚 have a great life. I've worked hard and saved some money, yet I've gotten to do many things I wanted to do, such as traveling.
鈥淚 had been working with Roy Gregory (executive director, University Advancement), and, recently, I told Michele that, when I die, I want to leave a gift to Austin Peay.
鈥淏ut Michele said, 鈥楧o it now.' She was right. I hope my gift inspires others to go ahead and give now.鈥
For more information, contact Gregory by telephone at (931) 221-7127. -- Dennie B. Burke