Former Wrestling Coach and Educator Ted Rupp Passes Away
2/11/2010 9:35:50 PM | Wrestling
Millersville, Pa. - The founder of the Millersville wrestling program, Dr. Theodore H. Rupp, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital late Wednesday evening.
Rupp, a 1935 graduate of Franklin & Marshall and World War II veteran, was a fixture in the Millersville community for more than 30 years. Not only did he start the wrestling program from scratch, but he also served as a professor in French and Spanish. In 1954, he became the chairman of the Department of Foregin Languages and remained in that position until his retirement in 1979.
As the leader of the wrestling program, Rupp posted an 71-18-2 record (.791 winning ratio) in 11 season from 1946 to 1952 and from 1952 to 1958. He guided the Marauders to State Teacher's College Championships in 1949 and 1951, which remain the only conference team crowns won in the program's 50-year history. He produced 14 individual champions responsible for 23 PSAC titles.
In 1995, Rupp was inducted into the inaugural class of the Millersville University Athletic Hall of Fame and remains one of just a few non-Millersville graduates selected. Rupp was also inducted into the following halls of fame: Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches (1975), PSAC Wrestling Coaches (1983), Franklin & Marshall College (1990), and the Pennsylvania/Susquehanna Valley Chapter (1992). He received the prestigious George Kirchner Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to Lancaster County sports in 1984 and received a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999.
Even while working at Millersville, Rupp continued to contribute to his alma mater. Before leaving for to serve in the U.S. Navy, Rupp taught and coached the wrestling team at Franklin & Marshall from 1935-43, and in 1948-49, Rupp coached both Millersville and F&M, finishing with a 20-2 combined record. He is believed to be the only coach in collegiate wrestling history to coach two teams at the same time.
In honor of his distinguished service to both institutions, the Rupp Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual meeting between the Franklin & Marshall and Millersville wrestling teams.
Rupp earned a master's degree from Penn State in 1942 and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954. Rupp took a sabbatical from Millersville during the 1952-53 academic year to study at the Sorbonne and the University of Montpellier as a Fulbright Scholar.
Rupp, a 1935 graduate of Franklin & Marshall and World War II veteran, was a fixture in the Millersville community for more than 30 years. Not only did he start the wrestling program from scratch, but he also served as a professor in French and Spanish. In 1954, he became the chairman of the Department of Foregin Languages and remained in that position until his retirement in 1979.
As the leader of the wrestling program, Rupp posted an 71-18-2 record (.791 winning ratio) in 11 season from 1946 to 1952 and from 1952 to 1958. He guided the Marauders to State Teacher's College Championships in 1949 and 1951, which remain the only conference team crowns won in the program's 50-year history. He produced 14 individual champions responsible for 23 PSAC titles.
In 1995, Rupp was inducted into the inaugural class of the Millersville University Athletic Hall of Fame and remains one of just a few non-Millersville graduates selected. Rupp was also inducted into the following halls of fame: Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches (1975), PSAC Wrestling Coaches (1983), Franklin & Marshall College (1990), and the Pennsylvania/Susquehanna Valley Chapter (1992). He received the prestigious George Kirchner Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to Lancaster County sports in 1984 and received a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999.
Even while working at Millersville, Rupp continued to contribute to his alma mater. Before leaving for to serve in the U.S. Navy, Rupp taught and coached the wrestling team at Franklin & Marshall from 1935-43, and in 1948-49, Rupp coached both Millersville and F&M, finishing with a 20-2 combined record. He is believed to be the only coach in collegiate wrestling history to coach two teams at the same time.
In honor of his distinguished service to both institutions, the Rupp Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual meeting between the Franklin & Marshall and Millersville wrestling teams.
Rupp earned a master's degree from Penn State in 1942 and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954. Rupp took a sabbatical from Millersville during the 1952-53 academic year to study at the Sorbonne and the University of Montpellier as a Fulbright Scholar.
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