Bibb family continues tradition of support at APSU
CLARKSVILLE 鈥 The Bibb family, long-time supporters of Austin Peay State University athletics dating back to the days when Dr. Leon Bibb was Faculty Athletics Representative at the university, continued that tradition with a pair of contributions to the department on Saturday.
During a ceremony held in the Austin Peay football offices, a contribution from Richard Bibb saw the head coach's office re-christened as the Dr. Leon Bibb Head Football Coach鈥檚 Office.
CLARKSVILLE 鈥 The Bibb family, long-time supporters of Austin Peay State University athletics dating back to the days when Dr. Leon Bibb was Faculty Athletics Representative at the university, continued that tradition with a pair of contributions to the department on Saturday.
During a ceremony held in the Austin Peay football offices, a contribution from Richard Bibb saw the head coach's office re-christened as the Dr. Leon Bibb Head Football Coach鈥檚 Office.
鈥淔or any university to prosper, it has to have its alums and friends giving back to the school,鈥 said Roy Gregory, Executive Director for University Advancement. 鈥淲ithout their support, we鈥檒l never see the success we want to have or be what we want to be. I appreciate Richard鈥檚 contribution, his friendship and this honor for his uncle.鈥
Dr. Bibb was the FAR from 1957 until his retirement in 1990. He was responsible for Austin Peay鈥檚 affiliation with the NCAA and the Ohio Valley Conference, and his persistence was a key component of getting the University into the OVC in 1962 after being turned down in 1956.
He supervised numerous construction projects, including the building of the Winfield Dunn Center. He also served as Austin Peay鈥檚 voting delegate at NCAA conventions.
鈥淒r. Bibb was so important in getting us attached to the NCAA and the OVC,鈥 APSU President Tim Hall said. 鈥淥ur students live in a present he helped create.鈥
Another contribution came during Austin Peay鈥檚 annual Hall of Fame induction lunch, when the family awarded the annual Dr. Leon Bibb scholarship to Seth Ralston, the graduate assistant for the Lady Govs basketball team. Each year the scholarship award goes to a graduate student "with excellent integrity and character, desire to complete a graduate degree at APSU and a commitment to the success of the APSU Athletics program."
Ralston is a 2013 graduate of Western Kentucky, where he worked with both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball programs as a manager. He was a student manager for the men鈥檚 team his first two seasons in Bowling Green before being named head manager of the women鈥檚 program his final two seasons. He was a two-time Dean鈥檚 List and President鈥檚 List honoree and earned his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management in May.
He joined head coach Carrie Daniels staff in the summer of 2013 as a graduate assistant. Ralston serves as the Lady Govs film coordinator and assist with operations duties.