APSU alumnus known for philanthropy receives TBR Chancellor's Award
An Austin Peay State University alumnus who in November 2007 increased his philanthropic support to the University by establishing an endowed football scholarship was honored recently with the Chancellors Award for Excellence in Philanthropy.Joe Hendricks Fox (51) was recognized at halftime of the Feb. 26 mens basketball game between APSU and Eastern Illinois. Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Dr. Charles Manning and APSU President Tim Hall were on hand to present Fox with the award.
An Austin Peay State University alumnus who in November 2007 increased his philanthropic support to the University by establishing an endowed football scholarship was honored recently with the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Philanthropy.
Joe Hendricks Fox ('51) was recognized at halftime of the Feb. 26 men's basketball game between APSU and Eastern Illinois. Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Dr. Charles Manning and APSU President Tim Hall were on hand to present Fox with the award.
鈥淗endricks Fox has been a key player in the efforts to reach out to fellow alumni to encourage their participation and return to events on campus by making hundreds of phone calls and sending dozens of personal notes,鈥 Manning told the crowd. 鈥淚n fact, there is probably not another individual that has donated more hours for Austin Peay in the University's history.鈥
On Nov. 10, 2007, during halftime of a home football game, Fox presented to APSU a check for more than a half million dollars to establish the Fox Endowed Scholarship for football scholarships.
Fox, 79, of Nashville, came to APSU in 1947 on a football scholarship. He wanted to make sure student-athletes have the same opportunity to attend college.
鈥淲ithout the scholarship I received to Austin Peay State University in 1947, I could not have done what I've done,鈥 he said in an earlier news story. 鈥淚've had a successful life, and I want to give back to help someone else.鈥
After graduating from APSU in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education, 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 retiring 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. 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 is one of APSU's largest endowments.
Also, in 2007, Fox was appointed as a member of the Austin Peay State University Foundation Board of Directors. -- Melony Shemberger