Nearly 500 banquet attendees stood Friday night and applauded as Ted Rubenstein handed Boo Ferriss the first ever "The Rube," an award named in honor of Ted's brother, the late Michael Rubenstein.
Moments later, the same 500 attendees stood and applauded again when it was announced that the Rubenstein family has given a $150,000 gift to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The donation, $25,000 per year over six years, is the largest private donation in the museum's 16-year history.
"Nobody knew better than Michael how much that money means to this museum," Rick Cleveland, the museum's new executive director said. "On behalf of the board of directors, Ted, I will personally guarantee this money will be used in a way that Michael would approve and in a way that will make our museum, and Mississippi, a better place, just as Michael has."
When asked about the gift, Ted Rubenstein said simply, "It is what Michael would have wanted. This was his baby. He loved this place."
Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Bucky McElroy, one of Southern Miss's all-time football greats, died Wednesday in his hometown of Monroe, La., after a long battle with cancer. He was 83.
McElroy, inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1981, was a standout running back at both Hinds Community College and USM. He was inducted into both of those schools' halls of fame.
"When Bucky had the ball in his hands, he was pure dynamite," said Hamp Cook, a USM teammate and also a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. "Bucky was a huge back for his time, but he had tremendous outside speed. He would just as soon run over you as around you."
Boo Ferriss, one of Mississippi's most beloved citizens, will receive the first The Rube award at the BancorpSouth Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies July 27 at the Downtown Marriott in Jackson.
The Rube is named for the late Michael Rubenstein, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum's first and only executive director until his death Dec. 1, 2011. The award will go annually to a person whose love and passion for — and contributions to — Mississippi sports have made a meaningful difference.
Ferriss fits the bill. A Shaw native, the former Mississippi State and Boston Red Sox baseball star built a powerhouse baseball program at Delta State.. There, Ferriss developed many of the high school, junior college and college coaches who have won state and national championships and greatly improved the quality of Mississippi baseball.
"When I heard the criteria for the Rube Award described, I immediately thought of Boo Ferriss," said former Ole Miss and NFL football great Archie Manning. "Growing up in the Delta he was one of my first sports heroes and he has been an unbelievable ambassador both for baseball and for the state of Mississippi. He is the ultimate gentleman. Everybody loves Boo. How could you not?"
Michael's older brother, Ted Rubenstein of Atlanta, knows his sibling would approve.
Josh Heird, 32, of Louisville, Ky., and Meggan Franks, 28, of Starkville were the overall winners of the five-kilometer Farm Bureau Insurance Watermelon Classic Wednesday morning.
A record 1,772 participants celebrated Independence Day in the 30th annual event held in sunny, warm and humid weather.
Heird finished the 3.1 mile run in 16 minutes, 31 seconds, three seconds ahead of second place William Kazery of Jackson. Curt Knight of Jackson finished third with a time of 16:40.
Among females, Franks finished a minute and three seconds ahead of second place Mia Martinson of Ridgeland. Jemu Zarzar of Germantown, Md., was third with a time of 20:47.
The event is a fund-raiser for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame which has conducted the race since 1997. For the time being find your finishing times at http://www.besttimescct.com/RaceResults.asp
