Oglethorpe University

James Edwin “Ed” Copeland Sr. graduated with a bachelor’s in education and was highly involved in athletics and around campus. He was voted “Most Popular Boy” his senior year.

Copeland was also a member of the O Club, the Lords Club, Blue Key National Honor Society, Student Honor Council, Zeta Epsilon, and participated in intramurals. He was president of his junior class, and in his senior year was president of Alpha Lambda Tau fraternity and student body president. Copeland also played varsity football his senior year, and joined the basketball his junior year and became captain. Although intramurals are generally for fun, Copeland dominated in basketball and claimed victories for Alpha Lambda Tau.

Copeland was a U.S Navy veteran and served as an SEC football official for 27 years. He also served on the board of directors for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Georgia Council on Civic & Moral Concerns. Copeland and his first wife Kathleen had four children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He passed away at age 85 on November 22nd, 1999.