The following article, which appeared in the October 31, 1998 Virginia Tech Gridiron, published by ISP Sports, is reproduced here to honor the memory of Eddie Ferrell.

Virginia Tech has devised a special plan to honor the memory of a special man, athletic trainer Eddie Ferrell, whose death in August shocked and saddened the Blacksburg community and Hokies everywhere.

In recognition of Ferrell's devotion throughout a 28-year career at Tech, the university is establishing a $75,000 endowment to provide a full scholarship in his name each year to a student athletic trainer.

In order to reach the goal, the Tech Athletic Fund is inviting all athletes and coaches, past and present, Hokie Club members, and friends of the University to participate in a fund-raising effort for the scholarship.

The Eddie Ferrell Memorial Scholarship will stand as a tribute to all Ferrell meant to the University and will serve as a strong show of appreciation to Ferrell's family, his wife Ann, sons William and Daniel, and daughters Rachel and Rebecca Jude.

Tech has chosen a "natural" to ramrod the Ferrell Scholarship fund-raising effort.  Brandon Semones, a star football linebacker for the Hokies from 1993 through 1996 and a close friend and confidant of Ferrell, went to work as an Athletic Fund development manager this fall.  His first major assignment was the Ferrell Scholarship project.

"Jim Weaver (Tech director of athletics) is the one who came up with the plan," Semones said.  "He saw Tech players and fans display such an outpouring of love for Eddie that he felt a scholarship in his name was an important step.  He gave me the assignment and told me to run with the ball."

Semones is doing exactly that.  He has mailed out letters to around 11,000 members of the Hokie Club, coaches and past and present players.  "The response has been terrific," Semones said.  "There is no doubt in my mind that we will raise the needed monies for this project.  Our goal is to have the scholarship in place by the end of 1998."

Because he was hampered by a back injury throughout most of his Tech playing career, Semones spent an unusual amount of time in Ferrell's training room.  "Eddie monitored the injury throughout my time so on the team," Semones said.  "He gave me many rubdowns and obtained a special machine which enabled me to stretch my back muscles.  We developed quite a friendship.  I can't begin to say all that Eddie Ferrell did for me and for a countless number of other players."

Semones says he observed Eddie Ferrell from a number of different sides.

"I saw his loyalty as he prepared the training room for our injured players at 5 o'clock in the morning," Semones said, "and I can't forget his caring side as he rushed to tend to injured players when they called out his name in practice.

"Then there was the fun side of Eddie Ferrell whose quick wit would fill a training room of players with laughter.  He had a terrific sense of humor.  Eddie truly was special in so many different ways and I am honored to be able to work on this scholarship in his name."

Semones points out that all contributions to the Eddie Ferrell Scholarship Fund are 100 percent tax deductible.  He also announced that when the scholarship is fully-funded, Eddie's widow, Ann, will receive all the benefits of a full scholarship donor including priority parking at football and basketball games, tickets, and numerous other things.

Eddie Ferrell became an athletic trainer in a very natural way.  He followed in the footsteps of his father who enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as the University of Arkansas trainer for 25 years.

Eddie received a bachelor of science in biology from Arkansas in 1966.  Almost 30 years later, he received a master's in athletic administration at Virginia Tech and that tells something about the man's tenacity.

After he finished undergraduate work at Arkansas, Eddie worked for two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and for two seasons at Oregon State as an assistant trainer.  He returned to Arkansas as an assistant trainer under Frank Broyles in 1970.

He came to Tech in 1971 when Charlie Coffey was named the Hokies' head football coach.  Ferrell and Coffey had worked together at Arkansas.

From the start at Tech.  Eddie's focus was on serving others.  He truly cared — not about fame and fortune, just about people.  This trainer was in the corner of every athlete who suited up for the Hokies and they were in his corner, too.  Ask any one of them.

So many former players have said how important the scholarship is to them.  They look upon it as a means of always remembering Eddie Ferrell — a man much too special to forget.

To contribute to the Eddie Ferrell Memorial Scholarship fund, send a check today to The Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, P.O. Box 10307, Blacksburg, VA 24062-9989.

Scholarship Update:  As of April 1999, the Eddie Ferrell Scholarship fund is nearing completion.  Donations are still being accepted to fully fund the scholarship.  Any donation given to the scholarship fund counts towards the donor's Hokie Club membership.  Please consider a donation to honor a man who meant so much to Virginia Tech athletics.