Meralyn and David Ruffin

The Meralyn and David Ruffin Scholarship was established in 1997 following the passing of Dr. David A. Ruffin, Georgia Southern University professor. Dr. Ruffin was born in Mississippi in 1921 and received his undergraduate degree in English at Rhodes University in Memphis, Tennessee. Following graduation, Dr. Ruffin served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Following his service, he enrolled at Vanderbilt University where he earned his Ph.D in English Literature. He then found professorship at Georgia Southern University where he taught for more than twenty years. In 1973, he was voted “Professor of the Year”. Upon his retirement in 1982, he was made Professor Emeritus of English. He is remembered by family as a musician, artist, sculptor, and genealogist. His wife, Meralyn, was born in 1923 and had passed of cancer prior to Dr. Ruffin’s death in 1996. This scholarship is available to members of the University Honors Program who major in the following: English, Philosophy, History, and Foreign Language.