An Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Roscoe Nance

Roscoe Nance (l.), the dean of black college journalists, is shown here with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (c.) and Black College Sports Page Editor Carl Lut Williams (r.) during the 2009 Sheridan All-American 'Skull Session' at the Steelers' practice facility in Pittsburgh.

LUT WILLIAMS
Black College Sports Page Editor

It is with great pleasure this week that the BCSP gives unconditional support to establishing an endowed scholarship at Tuskegee University in the name of friend and colleague, Roscoe Nance, who passed in January 2020.

For those who knew Roscoe, this effort needs little explanation or confirmation. But to those who didn’t, just know that he was a sports journalist with a deep love for all the things that matter – God, his family, his people, children, education, his alma mater, friends and truth telling.

He was known as the ‘dean’ of black college sports journalists for his long-standing, near 50-year commitment and love for these institutions and the products that they have produced historically, both on and off the fields of play. 

He touched countless people through his writing, his friendship  and his activism. His easy-going manner belied a fierce commitment to justice, equality and fairness which would readily come forth anytime those ethics were violated. 

A Union Springs, Alabama native, Roscoe embarked on his pioneering writing career after graduating from Tuskegee in 1971. He worked for the Columbus (Ga.) Inquirer before becoming a beat writer for the Jackson (Ms.) Clarion-Ledger from 1978-85. At the Clarion-Ledger, he was the first African-American sportswriter for a Mississippi daily newspaper. 

It was there, covering legendary SWAC coaches like Eddie Robinson of Grambling, Marino Casem of Alcorn State and Southern and Archie Cooley of Mississippi Valley State and players the likes of Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Doug Williams, that he made his mark. In fact he was the one who coined the nicknames “The Godfather” for Casem and “The Gunslinger” for Cooley as well as becoming a fixture as a chronicler of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) experience.

He went on to write for USA Today from 1986 to 2007 covering soccer and the NBA and after his retirement in 2007, for a number of publications and online entities including the BCSP.  Off his day job, he was a passionate and consistent volunteer in his church, his community and through his fraternity.

His beloved wife, Willye M. Nance, started this effort to produce this endowed scholarship at Tuskegee in Roscoe’s name (see letter below). The BCSP fully supports that effort. Other efforts are also underway or being started.

As such, we are beginning this crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to help raise the $25,000 needed to endow the scholarship at his alma mater. 

The BCSP is particularly calling on all journalists and others who interacted with and knew Roscoe – presidents, athletics directors and other school executives, commissioners, coaches, sports information professionals and the like on the college and professional levels, as well as others – to contribute a minimum of $100 or whatever you can afford towards this campaign.

I hope and pray we can find at least 100 people that give that minimum amount to quickly reach our goal of $10,000. Knowing the impact Roscoe had on hundreds of people both inside and outside the sports world, won't you please join me in this effort honoring Roscoe’s memory.


A Scholarship in Honor of Roscoe Nance
Family and Friends,

I’m writing you to ask your support in establishing an endowed scholarship in honor of Roscoe Nance, at his alma mater, Tuskegee University. 

Roscoe was a 1971 graduate of Tuskegee where he majored in Political Science. He became a well-known sportswriter and though he traveled widely, Tuskegee was one of the places that held a special place in his heart. Every year, he donated money to the university’s Presidential Essay Awards to support a student who was in good academic standing and who showed financial need according to the awards administrator and the Office of Financial Aid and, every year, except the year before his death January 2020, he returned to Tuskegee at homecoming, raising money to help fund scholarships for deserving students.

This scholarship would continue his tradition of giving back and reaching back to support those who come after him. To reach endowment status at Tuskegee, the threshold is $25,000.00. However, the higher the amount of the endowment the more students can be supported.  I would deeply appreciate your help in establishing an endowed scholarship in his name.  The scholarship would be awarded yearly.

Your contribution is tax deductible. To contribute: 
● Write out your check to Tuskegee University
● Write Roscoe Nance Scholarship on the memo line
● Mail your check to: Tuskegee University
Office of Advancement and Development
c/o Brad Watts
1 Booker T. Washington Blvd.
Kellogg Conference Center
Tuskegee, AL 36088

Or to donate electronically, you may go to www.tuskegee.edu/give. Fill in your information and you’re all set.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Sincerely,
Willye M. Nance (wife)