About Nate Ruffin Scholarship Board

The Beginning...

The Cade Chapel– Nate Ruffin Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 in honor of the late Brother Nate Ruffin. We were blessed during the 1990’s to have Brother Ruffin, his wife Sharon, and their children join our church family while they were residents in Jackson. During that time, Brother Ruffin was employed as Human Resources Director for the Clarion Ledger and served as a gifted motivator for our youth and church family. The turning point of his life is depicted on the silver screen in the Warner Brothers’ movie “We Are Marshall” released in 2006. It is the true story about hope and the will to overcome life’s tragedies.

Scholarship Fund

The Cade Chapel-Nate Ruffin Scholarship Fund was established through a generous donation by Nate’s widow, Sharon, to honor his dedication to education. Designated high school graduates of Cade Chapel Baptist Church, the Virden Addition Community, and Jackson Public Schools students are encouraged to apply each year for the Cade Chapel-Nate Ruffin Scholarship in their quest for educational advancement and achievement. The Scholarship funds are supported through annual fundraisers, individual donations, and/or corporate donations. Since August 2004, the Nate Ruffin Scholarship Board has awarded over 140 scholarships to students who are currently enrolled at (or graduated from) various colleges and universities.

All proceed benefit scholarships for students meeting application requirements.

Nate Ruffin
Community Activist/Mentor

Nate Ruffin was born in Quincy, Florida, and came to Marshall University to play football. He was co-captain of the 1970 football team, most of whom died in the tragic plane crash on November 14, 1970. Ruffin was not on the flight due to an injury. In the days after the crash, he became the leader and spokesperson for the team and was tasked with identifying bodies of the plane victims and attending funerals of his team members. He played on the 1971 football team, known as the Young Thundering Herd.

After leaving Marshall University, Ruffin worked in human resources at The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington before moving his family to Jackson, Miss., for another job in human resources. Ruffin and his family moved one last time to Vienna, Va., where he worked for the Freedom Foundation as vice president of human resources and community relations. He passed away in 2001 after a long bout with cancer. He is buried next to his teammates in Spring Hill Cemetery.

In 1997, Ruffin was inducted into the Black Legends of Marshall Society. Marshall University Black Alumni raised money to have a room dedicated to Ruffin in the Alumni Center and has established the Nate Ruffin Scholarship to assist Marshall students.