John & Melissa Ware Leave Estate Gift to Truman
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Melissa (Thomas)
Ware ('87) and John Ware ('87) |
April 2008―The Truman State University Foundation has received a $20,000 estate gift from the late Melissa ('87) and John Ware ('87). The gift will benefit the John and Melissa Ware Memorial Scholarship and the Bulldog Football Campaign
Melissa (Thomas) Ware, a 1987 graduate of Truman State University, began working for the University full-time as publications coordinator and office manager in August of 1988 under Sports Information Director Bill Cable. When Cable retired in 1995, Melissa was named sports information director. She served in that capacity until May 2004 when she moved to Joplin, Mo., after her husband, John Ware, accepted the head football coaching position at Missouri Southern State University. During her long career in sports information, Melissa accumulated more than 40 national awards for media guides from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She died Nov. 30, 2007, following a long illness.
Before coming to Truman in 1985, John served as line coach and strength and conditioning coach for a season in Ottumwa, Iowa, his hometown. A five-time U.S. Senior National Powerlifting champion, he was the world record-holder in 1989 and the 1991 world powerlifting champion. John served 19 seasons on the football coaching staff at Truman, including nine seasons as head coach before moving on to lead the football program at Missouri Southern. He is ranked third on the Truman victory chart with 54 wins as a head coach and is remembered for the victories recorded on the football field as well as the positive impact he had on the lives of everyone around him. John died on Sept. 27, 2005.
Following the death of her husband, Melissa established the John and Melissa Ware Memorial Scholarship through the Truman State University Foundation. In honor of the many contributions John made to Truman's football program, the scholarship is awarded to a member of the Truman football squad who has earned at least two letters, received the highest grade point average from the previous year and has an unwavering commitment to the Bulldog family.
The estate gift provides a boost to the Bulldog Football Campaign which will be used for improvements to the field and facilities of Stokes Stadium. In addition to providing the Truman athletic program with a first-class environment and playing surface, the improvements will help the University recruit and retain outstanding student athletes through enhanced facilities .
For more information
Office of
Advancement, McClain Hall 100, 100 E. Normal St., Kirksville, Mo. 63501-4221;
Telephone: (800) 452-6678 or (660) 785-4133; Fax (660) 785-7519.