Fork Union Military Academy

History

Located on a 1,000-acre (400 ha) campus in the rolling hills of central Virginia's Piedmont region, Fork Union Military Academy was initially founded as Fork Union Academy in October 1898 by Dr. William E. Hatcher, a prominent local Baptist minister. The first class had nineteen students.

In 1902, the academy took on a military structure to provide organization, discipline, and physical development for the boys of a rapidly growing school. In 1913, the academy became an all-male institution and changed its name to Fork Union Military Academy. That same year, the academy began receiving support from the Baptist General Association of Virginia, which continues to this day.

Military organization is used to structure the daily routine. While the academy has no direct relationship with any military branch, the school's military system has existed for more than 100 years.

Some of its buildings are named after benefactors who have helped fund their construction, such as the Guy E. Beatty Library, the Estes Dining Center, and Jacobson Hall. Other buildings on campus are named in honor or memory of persons who are significant in the school's history, such as Hatcher Hall and the Wicker Science Center, both named in memory of past school presidents.

FUMA's crest shows a pair of crossed swords, a book, and a star, each representing an aspect of the school motto: body, mind, and spirit.

Presidents of Fork Union Military Academy

Dr. William E. Hatcher: 1898–1912

Dr. Eldridge B. Hatcher: 1912–1914

Col Clayton E. Crosland: 1914–1917

Col Nathaniel J. Perkins: 1917–1930

Dr. John J. Wicker: 1930–1945

Col James C. Wicker: 1945–1968

Col Kenneth T. Whitescarver, USMC (Ret.): 1968–1990

COL Charles T. Clanton, USA (Ret.): 1991–1993

Lt Gen John E. Jackson Jr., USAF (Ret.): 1994–2011

RADM J. Scott Burhoe, USCG (Ret.): 2011–2018

Col David L. Coggins, USMC (Ret.): 2018–2023

Capt Mark E. Black, USN (Ret.): 2023–2026

Col. Steve Macek (Acting President) 2026-Present

Academics

The school offers a variety of sports, clubs, and organizations for cadet participation during free time in the week and on weekends. Athletics and clubs are a popular diversion from the rigors of cadet life at Fork Union.

Both Standard and Advanced High School Diplomas are offered. Graduating classes have routinely been awarded millions of dollars in scholarships.

One Subject Plan

Fork Union follows a unique curriculum schedule in the upper school (grades 9–12 and postgraduate) known as the One Subject Plan. The school year at Fork Union is divided into five grading periods of about seven weeks in length. Cadets at Fork Union take one subject at a time per each 7-week grading period instead of a conventional schedule with six to eight classes per day throughout the full school year or a block schedule. The cadets remain with the teacher of that course all day, every day during that 7-week grading period.

Military structure

Fork Union Military Academy provides a structured military environment for its cadets. Military aspects of Fork Union's system include the wearing of uniforms, a military-style organization of personnel, accountability for personal appearance and the state of one's room, ranks, and a chain of command. The rank structure adopted by the corps of cadets mirrors the US Army's enlisted ranks, with the exclusion of the ranks of PV2 and Specialist. Its officer ranks mirror those of the Army JROTC's rank structure, with the rank of Cadet Colonel rarely being used.

The Upper School consists of cadets from 9th grade through the Postgraduate year. The Upper School cadets reside in Jacobson Hall, home to Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo Companies. There is also a drill team company, Retan Rifle (which exists for special events only) that performs in parades across Virginia. Upper School marching band members march in parades on campus and around the state along with Retan Rifles and Fork Union's Bagpipe Corps. Cadet Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) live as a part of each company. Each company is subdivided into three platoons, each with its own NCOs and Officers. Platoons are subdivided into Squads led by Cadet Sergeants. Squad and Platoon leaders are accountable to the higher company leadership and adult members of the Commandant's Department, as well as to their Tactical Officers (TACs), who are assigned to each company to supervise the cadets.

Spiritual life

While students of other religious beliefs may attend the Academy, all cadets attend on-campus Christian chapel services Monday through Thursday and on Sunday each week unless excused. The Academy is affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

Campus

FUMA's campus is located on a 1,000-acre (400 ha) campus in the hills of the Virginia's Piedmont region.

Hatcher Hall – Administrative offices and liberal arts classrooms

Wicker Science Building and Moretz Learning Center – Math and Science classrooms

Vaughan Hall – Social Center / Student Activities

Wicker Chapel

Veterans Memorial

Guy E. Beatty Library

Dorothy Estes Dining Hall

Thomas Gymnasium

Estes Athletic Complex - an 85,000-square-foot (7,900 m2) athletic center

Fork Union Aquatic Center

Jacobson Hall – The 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2), 250-room barracks opened for cadets on August 20, 2012, and now houses Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Echo, and Delta companies, replacing both Snead and Memorial Halls at a cost of approximately $20 million. Ground was broken on October 22, 2010.

Athletics

FUMA's athletic program is most famous for its football team, which has produced 117 NFL players, and for its track & field team, ranked as one of the best in Virginia.

There are only two postgraduate athletic programs at Fork Union. Head coach Frank Arritt leads the postgraduate football team. The postgraduate basketball program was coached by Fletcher Arritt, the subject of a documentary titled The Passing Game.

The Prep teams fielding players from grades 9–12 include Football, Basketball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field, Orienteering, Shooting Sports, and Swimming and Diving.

The Fork Union Outdoor Track team won its 20th straight VISAA state championship in 2008.

Many athletes have gone on from the academy to compete in collegiate athletic programs and pursue careers on professional teams. FUMA alumni have included numerous famous athletes who have played in the NFL, MLB, and in multiple other leagues and sports.

Their rival Hargrave Military Academy discontinued their postgraduate football team in 2013; the rivalry continues in postgraduate basketball as the two teams continue to compete every season.

Student organizations

There are many different clubs and organizations that cadets can participate in while attending Fork Union. Though new clubs are often started annually by new cadets to meet demand, the more permanent list of clubs includes: National Honor Society, Honor Council, International Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life, IDEA Club, Scuba, Math Club, Speech and Debate, Robotics, Drama Club, Catholic Cadet Association, Chess Club, Band, Pep Band, Bagpipe Corps, Choir, and Woodworking.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Fork Union include:

Politics

Ike Franklin Andrews – U.S. Congressman from North Carolina

Lee Atwater – Republican political consultant and strategist

Bo Gritz – Army Special Forces officer, Vietnam War POW/MIA activist and third-party presidential candidate in 1992

Tim Holden – U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania

Harold Roe Bartle – Kansas City mayor and namesake of the Kansas City Chiefs and second national president of Alpha Phi Omega.

Robert Bloxom – Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Stanley C. Walker – President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia

Military

Fletcher C. Booker Jr. – US Army major general

John T. Chain Jr. – Retired U.S. Air Force General, Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command

Herbert L. Earnest – U.S. Army major general

Earle Davis Gregory – First Virginian to receive the Medal of Honor and called the "Sergeant York" of Virginia

George D. Miller – Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General, Vice Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command. Following retirement, he was the secretary-general of the United States Olympic Committee

Robert H. Scales – Retired U.S. Army Major General, Commandant of the U.S. Army War College

Businessmen

Jeff Jones – CEO and President of H&R Block, executive with Target Corporation, Uber, and Gap Inc.

Kevin Plank – CEO and Founder of Under Armour

Jerry Richardson – Founder of the Carolina Panthers

Ryan Wood, co-founder of the Under Armour company

Education

Edward H. Jennings – President of Ohio State University from 1981 to 1990

Aubrey H. Camden (Class of 1907)– President of Hargrave Military Academy from 1918 to 1951

Joseph Hathaway Cosby (Class of 1921)– President of Hargrave Military Academy from 1951 to 1970

Literature, television and arts

Billy Campbell, actor

Lloyd Dobyns, NBC reporter and correspondent

David Huddleston, actor

Solomon Hughes, actor

Track and Field

Ibrahim Mohamed Aden, runner

Braxton Davenport, Pole Vault, National High School Record, 1990

Swimming

Ali Khalafalla, 2016, 2020 Olympics Egypt

Basketball

Kevin Laue – First Division I basketball player with one hand; played on a scholarship for Manhattan College

Dan Ruland – Professional basketball player

Donald Sims – Professional basketball player

Khyri Thomas (born 1996) - Drafted 38th overall in the 2018 NBA draft, currently with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague.

Melvin Turpin (1960-2010) – 1st round pick (6th overall) 1984 NBA draft. Center.

Kenny Williams (born 1969) - basketball player

Shammond Williams – Drafted 34th overall in the 1998 NBA draft and played nearly a decade in the NBA. On several Top 10 stats lists as a college player at UNC.

Mike Young – Head men's basketball coach at Virginia Tech

National Football League

At least 118 Fork Union Military Academy players have been drafted or signed by NFL teams.

At least 12 players from Fork Union Military Academy have been selected in the First Round of the NFL draft since 1954, 7 players have been selected for one or more Pro Bowl appearances, and at least 12 players have been on teams that competed in Super Bowl games.

The list includes:

Gaines Adams - 1st Round pick in the 2007 NFL draft. Defensive lineman.

Jerell Adams - 6th round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

Danny Aiken - Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Long Snapper. Super Bowl XLIX Champion.

Antonio Allen - 7th round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Free Safety.

Maurice Anderson - Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2000. Defensive Tackle. Super Bowl XXXVI Champion.

Akeem Auguste - Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Cornerback.

Michael Badgley - Undrafted free agent. Signed with Indianapolis in 2018. Punter/kicker.

Michael Barber - Undrafted free agent. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 1995. Played five years.

Isaiah Battle - 5th round pick in the 2015 Supplement NFL Draft.

Darryl Blackstock - 3rd round pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Linebacker.

Notable faculty

Samuel G. Fuqua – Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral. He was the highest-ranking officer to survive the sinking of USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was a mathematics instructor at Fork Union in the late 1950's.