History of the Inez Graybeal Roop (’35) Alumni Service Award
Inez Graybeal Roop ('35) Alumni Service Award
The Inez Graybeal Roop Distinguished Alumni Service Award recognizes
alumni who have performed notable service to the university and/or the
alumni association. Created in 1971, the award is given on an annual
basis to an individual on the basis of distinguished service,
meritorious achievement and/or meaningful contributions in promoting the
mission of either James Madison University and/or the JMU Alumni
Association. This includes, but is not limited to, serving on official
university boards and providing effective support of the university, its
students, faculty, staff and alumni. All JMU alumni — with the
exception of current university students, employees and trustees — are
eligible.
The award is named in honor of Inez Graybeal Roop (’35), a former
member of the JMU Board of Visitors and the JMU Alumni Association Board
of Directors, who in 1977 made the formal motion to change the name of
Madison College to James Madison University. A State Teachers College
alum who graduated with degrees in English and History, Roop’s public
service work included serving as chair of the Alumni Fund Drive,
president of the Richmond Chapter of the JMU Alumni Association and an
officer in the Bluestone Society. In 1994, the university named Roop
Hall in her honor. Aside from participating in almost every university
milestone — including representing the Class of 1935 at JMU’s centennial
celebration in 2008 — Roop and her husband, Ralph (’05H), demonstrated
their commitment to JMU through a lifetime of giving, providing funds
for student scholarships and faculty advancement. At the time of her
death in Nov. 2010, 142 Roop scholarships had been awarded to students.