Wilbur Edmiston, (’62), came to the University of Tennessee Martin Branch from Munford with a desire to play football and get an education. He left with a lot more, but the first year was tough.
“I had worked for two years after I graduated from high school and decided that I needed a college degree,” Edmiston said. “I borrowed $250 from my grandmother and thought I would get the balance paid by earning a football scholarship.”
Edmiston was devastated when he was cut from the team after the first two weeks of practice. After considering his options, he went back into Coach Bob Carroll’s office and begged for another chance. Coach Carroll was impressed by his determination and gave Edmiston that chance.
“As a coach, it was very rewarding to see Wilbur develop into an outstanding and versatile player,” Carroll said. “His determination, pride, hard work and mental toughness enabled him to excel as a running back, kick returner, punter and defensive back.”
Edmiston went on to become one of the most outstanding football players in UT Martin history, making all-conference two years in the Volunteer State Athletic Conference. He still ranks third among running backs in points scored in a season (64), fourth among running backs in points scored in a career (157) and second in points scored in a game. He ran for four touchdowns and a two-point conversion in 1961 (26 points) against the Missouri School of Mines (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology). Those rankings are even more impressive considering that the football team only played an average of nine games per season from 1959-62. Edmiston was inducted into the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.
Not only did Edmiston leave UT Martin in 1962 with a degree in secondary education (history) and a prominent place in the football record book, he met his future wife, Peggy, who was also a student at the time. Peggy became a successful public administrator and ultimately was director of community services for Shelby County. She was asked to serve as a state commissioner by two governors but gave preference to family priorities and continued her career in Shelby County until her death at the age of 62. Peggy received the UT Martin Distinguished Service Award in 1999, which recognizes meritorious contributions by an individual on the
local, state and national level.
As a tribute to the experiences of “walk-on” athletes like himself and in memory of his late wife, Edmiston donated $50,000 to establish the Wilbur and Peggy Edmiston Walk-on Endowed Scholarship. The endowment’s income will fund a scholarship for a football, baseball or men’s basketball student-athlete who initially participated without any athletic scholarship. In addition, the student-athlete must demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
“I am so proud that Wilbur is leaving this legacy, and I hope many other athletic alumni will contribute to this endowment as a tribute to their own experience or the experiences of other teammates they know,” said Phil Dane, director of intercollegiate athletics. The walk-on athlete experience is an important part of any successful athletic program because it exemplifies the real history of intercollegiate athletics.” |
