By Yvonne Ratledge (Class of 2024)
David and Vickie Rigby
David Rigby (’67) met his future wife, Vickie England, in a business class after transferring to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1964. When he sat down next to her, it was love at first sight for them both. Vickie and David studied together for two years before financial hardship forced Vickie to drop out of her business administration program in her junior year.
“If she had been able to get a scholarship she probably would have stayed and finished her degree,” recalls David. “It didn’t happen that way, but she was never regretful or disappointed.”
Vickie was able to find employment at UT in the financial aid office as a secretary and worked there until David finished his journalism degree. Following David’s graduation in 1967, the couple married and began a life of travel through his employment as an Air Force officer.
“She was a wonderful military wife,” says David. “We were married for 15 years and I think we moved about seven times, and she never complained.”
David and Vickie moved constantly and lived everywhere from Nebraska to Florida. Despite her shy nature, Vickie found ways to get involved in every community she lived in. She managed a thrift shop on an air base in Florida and served as a Sunday school teacher and youth advisor in Virginia, all while working full time as a secretary.
Had I not gone to the University of Tennessee, I would not have had the exciting and rewarding career that I’ve had. I want to give that same opportunity to a student in a similar position as Vickie.
David Rigby (’67)
In 1982, Vickie passed away after a courageous battle against a rare form of cancer. In her memory, David created the Vickie E. Rigby Scholarship to help a single student complete the education Vickie had started. Now that he’s retired, David decided to endow the scholarship to help current and future students for years to come.
“It’s important to give back,” he says. “Had I not gone to the University of Tennessee, I would not have had the exciting and rewarding career that I’ve had. I want to give that same opportunity to a student in a similar position as Vickie.”
As the endowment continues to grow, countless students will be relieved of the financial burden of paying their way through college, affording them the opportunity to focus on their education.
