Gene Smith, Ed. D., Principal, Sissonville High School | September 6, 2024

Good evening and welcome to our first home football game of 2024. As we celebrate our first game this evening, I want to also remember those who are not with us tonight.

Our community has been taking some big hits lately. We’ve lost Eric Murray, Jimmy “Rooster” Dingee, Brayden Taylor, Seilah Stanley... a few of the many names.

And last year, the loss of Bumper Taylor left a big void in Sissonville.

If you knew Bumper – and I know many of you did – you know he loved Sissonville. He loved the high school. He loved these games. It’s strange not to see him at a home opener.

But tonight, I’m humbled to announce something that will honor Bumper’s legacy and perhaps help fill that void.

The Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund.

On the field with me tonight, we welcome Bumper’s family as we make this special announcement. We as a community are grateful for Bumper, and may his legacy live on through our students.

This Scholarship Fund will provide financial support to help graduating Sissonville High School seniors who plan to attend West Virginia University.  Our seniors can apply for the scholarships, and recipients will be selected based on accomplishment, community service and need. You will be hearing more about how to apply soon, but tonight we want to honor Bumper and announce this Scholarship Fund in his memory.

And again, if you knew Bumper, you also know he loved the Mountaineers. So it is especially fitting that we do this in partnership with the WVU Foundation.

All contributions will go directly to the WVU Foundation. I want to thank the Foundation for making this process so easy. And I want to thank the Steve and Karen Farmer, who are like family to Bumper’s mom. We’re grateful for the support they’ve provided as well as the seed money to get this fund started.

In Bumper’s memory, the fund will support kids who want to take a chance, go to college, prepare for their dreams and work hard to make it happen! As Bumper would say, “Go Big, or Go Home!”

If you would like to contribute a tax-deductible donation to the Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund, please visit bumperscholarshipfund.com - all set up by the WVU Foundation.

We encourage you to share your own stories and photos about Bumper as we preserve his legacy to our school, our community, WVU and his entire family.

Thank you!