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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Scholarship Fund Honors Memory of Joey Embry
6/21/1999 | Football
April 12, 1999
UNIVERSITY, Miss. - During football camps under sun-drenched skies on the Oxford campus, Joey Embry decided he wanted to be an Ole Miss Rebel. In 1995, at the end of his stellar prep career at Bruce (Miss.) High School, the scholarship offer came.
"Joey reacted as any young man would who had dreamed of playing SEC football," recalled his mother, Gwen Embry of Bruce. "He was so excited, so thrilled; he was going to do something he had always wanted to do."
| Ole Miss Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe (left) and Executive Director of University Development Steve Owens (right) join Gwen and Bill Embry of Bruce to announce the establishment of the Joey Embry Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund honors their son, Joey, a former Ole Miss football player who drowned in a tragic accident in May of 1998. |
Almost four years later, Joey Embry's Rebel teammates dedicated the 1998 season to his memory and wore Embry's name and number on their helmets. Embry drowned May 19, 1998, in a tragic accident just months before he was expected to be a major contributor on the Rebel offensive line.
Family and friends are keeping his spirit alive through the Joey Embry Memorial Scholarship Fund, established to help student-athletes at The University of Mississippi. "I think Joey would be really proud of the scholarship fund," his mother said, "not because it is honoring him but because it will help so many other students.
Embry's roommate and fellow teammate Bobby Killion, an Ole Miss center, said, "Joey touched the lives of so many people while having an influence on those who came in contact with him. He was a great man and is missed by a lot of people. I know I'll miss him for the rest of my life. If you knew him, you had to love him. He didn't give you any choice."
Embry left a strong impression on the Ole Miss community, providing leadership both on and off the playing field. As a business administration major, he excelled academically, making the UMAA Honor Roll and the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He also was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and as a team leader.
In fact, calls from across the country came in to the FCA office at Ole Miss upon news of Embry's death, said Wes Yeary, FCA director. "People from all over wanted to express their concern and pray for his family," he said. "Joey's strongest quality was his great love of people. So many individuals were drawn to Joey because they knew in him they had a true friend. I deeply appreciate his influence. Our FCA group grew because of the people he invited to participate. People from all walks of life were touched by him."
"I really miss him," said Lynnette Schwartz, now assistant athletic director/senior women's administrator, who was the head athletic trainer while Embry was a student-athlete. "He was a fighter; he never ever gave up. Not only did he battle diabetes, but he also came back from back surgery in 1997. He brought himself back because he was that determined. He was a great, young man - a model of determination who inspired others."
Ole Miss Spirit editor Chuck Rounsaville said, "Joey was one of the special ones. The world missed out on a great adult life when we lost him. In this situation, football does not seem very important, but Joey was about to leave his mark on Ole Miss football. He had so much potential. Joey already had made his mark off the playing field with his great attitude and personality. He never complained about his diabetes. He never used it as a crutch to get out of hard workouts. Joey was a gentle giant."
Ole Miss football players say they are pleased about the Embry scholarship. "Establishing a scholarship in Joey's memory is a tribute to the life he lived," said Armegis Spearman, Ole Miss linebacker and Embry's childhood friend. "He was a great friend who always had a smile on his face and never had a bad word for anybody. We grew up together in Bruce and were teammates all of my years of football. It was a big loss for me."
Ole Miss center Matt Luke concurred, saying, "First of all, I think it's a great idea to start a scholarship in the name of somebody like Joey Embry. He was a person who was always up on his school work and did a good job no matter what he did. He always took pride in being a student-athlete. Whoever gets this scholarship should be honored to be mentioned in the same category with Joey Embry."
In addition to the scholarship fund, Weyerhaeuser Co. donated equipment to Ole Miss' Starnes Athletic Training Center in memory of the Ole Miss football player. Embry's mother is an employee of Weyerhaeuser, and his father, Bill, does contract work for the company.
"This rehabilitation/fitness equipment will go a long way in helping improve the health and fitness of all Ole Miss student-athletes," said Leroy Mullins, head athletic trainer. "We are thankful to Weyerhaeuser for its generous contribution given in Joey's memory. I am grateful to have known Joey and will always appreciate the example he set for everybody."
Individuals and organizations can contribute to the Joey Embry Memorial Scholarship Fund through The University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677; phone 800-340-9542; e-mail umf@olemiss.edu.
