University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: UofM Athletic Media Relations
Billy Fletcher Family Endows Football Scholarship
Apr 27, 2016 | Football, General
Endowment will help athletic department cover costs for members of the Tiger football program.
MEMPHIS – The family of former Tiger football player Billy Fletcher announced the endowment of the Billy Fletcher Football Excellence Scholarship it was announced by the Tiger Scholarship Fund, Wednesday.
"We greatly appreciate the Fletcher family for establishing this endowed fund, which will support Memphis Athletics in perpetuity. Their support will make an indelible mark on our program for generations to come," stated Adam Walker, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development.
Fletcher, a quarterback at Memphis from 1963-65, passed away on January 25th in Collierville, Tenn.
A native of Memphis, Fletcher transferred to then-Memphis State and played three seasons under former head coach Billy J. Murphy. As a junior, he threw for 921 yards and seven touchdowns, returned 16 kickoffs for 389 yards and booted a then-school record 50-yard field goal against West Texas. In total, he broke nine records in his junior campaign.
As a senior, the first year that Memphis played in the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (previously named the Memphis Memorial Stadium), he threw for 1,239 yards and 13 touchdowns, rushed for 556 yards and six TDs and kicked 24 PATs. He became the first Memphis quarterback to pass for more than 1,000 yards in a season, and by the end of the 1965 season, had set 15 Memphis football records. In the 1965 contest against nationally-ranked Mississippi State, Fletcher led the Tigers to a 33-13 win over the undefeated Bulldogs and was named the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated National Back of the Week.
He completed his Memphis State career holding the Tiger single season records for most yards, most pass attempts, most pass completions, and most kickoff return yards and career marks in field goals made, most total offense and career yards passing, pass attempt and pass completions and touchdown passes. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos and after a stint in pro football, returned to Memphis to start a career in the metal supply business.
Fletcher was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 1985, received the Billy J. Murphy Award in 1996, was named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and was inducted in to the All-American Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2002.
He is survived by his wife, Marsha, son Jay (Heather), grandson Griffin and granddaughter Evie and his sister Betty Fletcher Martin (Tony).
The endowed donation through the Tiger Scholarship Fund helps the athletic department cover costs for members of the Tiger football program. For information on donating to the Billy Fletcher Excellence Scholarship or to any scholarship to support any of the program's almost 400 student-athletes, contact the Tiger Scholarship Fund Office at 901-678-2334.
"We greatly appreciate the Fletcher family for establishing this endowed fund, which will support Memphis Athletics in perpetuity. Their support will make an indelible mark on our program for generations to come," stated Adam Walker, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development.
Fletcher, a quarterback at Memphis from 1963-65, passed away on January 25th in Collierville, Tenn.
A native of Memphis, Fletcher transferred to then-Memphis State and played three seasons under former head coach Billy J. Murphy. As a junior, he threw for 921 yards and seven touchdowns, returned 16 kickoffs for 389 yards and booted a then-school record 50-yard field goal against West Texas. In total, he broke nine records in his junior campaign.
As a senior, the first year that Memphis played in the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (previously named the Memphis Memorial Stadium), he threw for 1,239 yards and 13 touchdowns, rushed for 556 yards and six TDs and kicked 24 PATs. He became the first Memphis quarterback to pass for more than 1,000 yards in a season, and by the end of the 1965 season, had set 15 Memphis football records. In the 1965 contest against nationally-ranked Mississippi State, Fletcher led the Tigers to a 33-13 win over the undefeated Bulldogs and was named the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated National Back of the Week.
He completed his Memphis State career holding the Tiger single season records for most yards, most pass attempts, most pass completions, and most kickoff return yards and career marks in field goals made, most total offense and career yards passing, pass attempt and pass completions and touchdown passes. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos and after a stint in pro football, returned to Memphis to start a career in the metal supply business.
Fletcher was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 1985, received the Billy J. Murphy Award in 1996, was named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and was inducted in to the All-American Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2002.
He is survived by his wife, Marsha, son Jay (Heather), grandson Griffin and granddaughter Evie and his sister Betty Fletcher Martin (Tony).
The endowed donation through the Tiger Scholarship Fund helps the athletic department cover costs for members of the Tiger football program. For information on donating to the Billy Fletcher Excellence Scholarship or to any scholarship to support any of the program's almost 400 student-athletes, contact the Tiger Scholarship Fund Office at 901-678-2334.
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