The purpose of the John B. Hardin Service Award is to recognize and honor those alumni and members of the community who have consistently contributed an exceptional amount of time and talent to Webb and whose efforts benefit students, enhance campus life and reaffirm the commitment of the Webb community to the School.
All living Webb School Alumni, Administrators, Faculty, Staff and other members of the Webb School community are eligible to be nominated.
Stan Rupley
Congratulations to our 2019 recipient Mr. Stan Rupley.
After earning an undergraduate degree from Centre College of Kentucky and a masters from Indiana University, Stan Rupley began his career in 1974 as an English teacher at The Webb School. After three years he undertook a year of graduate courses at Vanderbilt and a decade of teaching at Montgomery (AL) Academy. In 1988 he returned to Webb as Chair of the English Department, then Director of Studies, and ultimately Assistant Headmaster. In addition, he directed Webb’s Summer Schools for thirteen years. In 2008, he began his last chapter in secondary education at Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, TN) as English Department Chair and Upper School Director of Studies. Following his “retirement” in 2014, Stan is still educating others: he teaches a few times each month for Parenting Skills Institute.
During Stan’s thirty-nine years of teaching, he worked with the Cum Laude Society, quiz bowl teams, speech contestants, yearbook staffs, and literary magazines’ writers. He served on SAIS and SACS accreditation teams. For several seasons, he even announced football games.
However, Stan’s passion has always been teaching British literature and Shakespeare. The first holder of the Follin Chair of English, he was able to spend a month at Cambridge University studying Shakespeare, an opportunity he still cherishes. At all three independent schools, Stan had the privilege of doing what he loved as he has taught thousands of talented college-prep students and worked with hundreds of committed teachers and administrators.
Mr. Rupley is also the father of two Webb alumni: Jennifer (’93) and Jeff (’02).
Past Recipients
JOHN B. HARDIN SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2018 Lee Woosley '78
2017 Wilson Sims, Jr. '72
2016 Matthias Brickell "Bricke" Murfree '96
2015 Jack Bailey '72
2014 Paul Martin '88
2013 Sandra Truitt
2012 Leigh McKee
2011 L.R. Smith
2010 Bill Rice
2009 Bobby Chambers
2008 Jenny Hunt
2007 Sandy Sanders
2006 Harold Bennett
2005 Jon Frere
2004 Bill Abernathy '72
2003 Mack Scott *
2002 Imre Lagler *
2001 Blair Stephens '53
2000 Jim Meadows '52*
1999 John Hester '77
1998 Dorothy Elkins
*Denotes deceased