Feb. 3, 2010

Columbia, MO - The University of Missouri Wrestling Program is proud to begin distributing scholarships from the Ogle Hopkins Endowment Fund. For the first time since the passing of former MU wrestler, Ogle Hopkins, the endowment now gives one wrestler per year the opportunity to benefit from the donated amount.

The endowment was established after an initial donation of $25,000 by Joe Atkins as a memorial fund in honor of Ogle Hopkins. On August 22, 2008, Hopkins' neighbor and long-time family friend made the generous contribution to the Wrestling Program, jump-starting the endowment. Atkin's friendship with Ogle moves deeper than skin; their relationship has endured throughout life and past death. With the endowment, Atkins hopes to keep not only the memory of his friend afloat, but to remind everyone of the deep impact Hopkins had on those he met.

"I just wanted to do something in Ogle's memory that would recognize him and also help the wrestling program," Atkins said.

The fund is set up to give one annual scholarship award to a member of the MU wrestling team. Currently, the endowment is worth roughly $28,616.99, which will provide just over $1,222.60 to each receiving wrestler. The endowment is always accepting donations, and Atkins plans to continue to give on a regular basis.

"I will try to add to it as I go along, donating a little bit every year. I want to try to make the endowment worth as much as possible, and give as much in scholarships as the endowed investment can make."

Unlike typical endowments the Ogle Hopkins Endowment is not set up with specifications for a wrestler to have a particular GPA, pursue a specific degree, or be from a certain county; rather, the MU compliance office headboards with Coach Smith to decide who receives the scholarship for that year. This is a more personal approach in determining which wrestler will be given the scholarship.

Ogle Hopkins wrestled for the University of Missouri in the late 50's, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He was born on December 7, 1939, and grew up in Missouri, leaving soon after to serve in the Vietnam War as a fighter pilot. During his time serving for the United States, he flew A-4 Skyhawks, and was a member of the Fighter Attack Squadron 121, also known as the "Green Knights". The Green Knights are a collaborative group of honorable men who could acquire and destroy any directed target during the Vietnam War; Today, these men still get together for reunions as a means of staying in contact. While attending the University of Missouri, Hopkins juggled being active in the ROTC, the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, and being a wrestler on Mizzou's first ever wrestling team. Once he graduated from Mizzou, Hopkins raised a family of three children, Alan, Mike, and Laureen (Hopkins) Kirkman while working for the Department of Natural Resources as a farmer. He was later remarried to Paula Hertwig in 1992 after dating for two years.

"He farmed for a good part of his life when he was raising his children, and managed a huge farm operation down in the Lake of the Ozarks," Paula said. "He continued to work for DNR, where he retired from about three to four years before he passed away," she continued.

Like Atkins, Paula plans on donating to the endowment for as long as she can, "I plan on making a contribution between now and the end of the year, you will be seeing another thousand dollars from me."

With the endowment just over a year in it's maturity, this year will be the first time a wrestler will benefit from it. The 2010 recipient is senior Max Askren. Instead of Askren getting the money directly, due to NCAA regulations, the amount will be allocated indirectly to Askren's scholarship aid to be used towards books, tuition fees, or whatever the case may be.

It is with honor that the MU Wrestling Program awards scholarships to athletes in remembrance of Ogle Hopkins; not only does the fund help wrestlers financially, but it keeps the history and memory of Hopkins alive.

--Written by Kaitlyn Frysztak, Media Relations Student Assistant