Remembering Thomas Walter “Little Willie” Scruggs

Sometimes, there are certain people who implore you to learn more about them. This was the case for Thomas Walter Scruggs. When I traveled down to Franklin recently, I made the usual trip to St. Cyprian’s Cemetery, where some of my ancestors and many of their neighbors and friends are buried. The cemetery is special to me not only because my people are there, but also because it’s the place where my research first started coming together. Even though I’ve been to the cemetery several times, every time I go to Franklin, I feel drawn to it.

During my first trip to Franklin, my cousins told me about the story of a young man named Thomas Walter Scruggs. Known by his family and friends as “Little Wille,” he was a star athlete, playing both football and basketball for Franklin area school teams and was one of the first African Americans to integrate Franklin High School.

In 1965, his life was cut short by a head-on collision while he was visiting his family over the Christmas holiday.

As I walked around the cemetery, noting names and dates, acknowledging new headstones, and smiling at the latest flower arrangements, I paused in front of Walter’s headstone as I recalled his story.

I wanted to learn more.

Thomas Walter Scruggs was born to Willie and Addie Isabella Greenwood Scruggs on July 6, 1947 in Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina. He had several brothers and sisters, being one of eleven children. His father worked as at a gas station, while his mother kept house. In 1950, the family lived on Roller Mill Road. ¹

During the Summer of 1964, Walter, Charles Stewart, and Odette Thompson, seniors at all-Black Chapel School, walked to Superintendent H. Bueck’s home to ask if they could enroll at the all-white Franklin High School the following Fall. They were met with little resistance and after approval from the Macon County Board of Education, the three enrolled at Franklin High School. ²

Walter played basketball throughout his childhood. It is believed that he wanted to attend Franklin High School not only to get a high-quality education, but also to play sports there with his friends. ³

While at Franklin High School, Scruggs played on the Panthers’ football and basketball teams. From 1964-1965, he helped lead the high school’s basketball team to the championships. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1965. He was also a Student Council Representative for three years while at Chapel School. At the time, his future plans were undecided. ⁴

Shortly after, he enrolled at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, becoming the first African American to attend the school. Scruggs, who played the starting position of forward, quickly became a star player there too. Walter was also active in school activities. He would go on to join the Protopian Society, a group that focused on brotherhood and campus service, and the Heritage of Pilgrim Endeavor, whose goal was to develop church leaders. ⁵

On December 24, 1965, Walter was driving along Highway 64, West of Franklin when he collided with an oncoming car in a head-on collision. According to Highway Patrol, Walter “was passing another car when the accident occurred.” The driver in the oncoming car was his older brother, Oleanus Scruggs. ⁶ Walter was immediately taken to Angel Hospital, but was pronounced dead nearly 30 minutes later.

Scruggs’ college basketball coach, L. O’Neal Cave, offered a heartfelt memorial in the 1966 Piedmont Community College yearbook:

In the days leading up to his funeral, a “steady stream of folks” visited his body at the funeral home to pay their respects. Due to the high number of people who wanted to attend his funeral, congregants from First Baptist Church voted “unanimously” to move Walter’s funeral services from his home church, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, to theirs. First Baptist Church was the largest church in Franklin at the time. More than 1,000 individuals would attend Scruggs’ funeral at the church, including Superintendent of Macon County schools, H. Bueck; president of Piedmont College, Dr. James E. Walter; his college basketball coach L. O’Neal Cave; as well as family, friends, and neighbors. His pallbearers included players from the 1964-1965 basketball team and his high school basketball coach, Tom Raby.

One attendee described the event: “Nothing has ever shook up the community like his death. The people loved him and respected him. You can see how they turned out for his funeral. There’s never been as big a funeral here before.” ⁷

Despite his short life, Walter’s legacy lived on in his hometown. His basketball jersey number, 44, was retired at Franklin High School. In 2016, he was inducted posthumously into the Franklin High School Hall of Fame. Decades after his death, the Thomas Walter Scruggs Scholarship Fund was created to honor his memory. Annually, the scholarship honors courageous and selfless senior student athletes. ⁸

In the words of another community member, “They have buried him, but his spirit will go marching on. Of that, you can be sure.”

1. United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Franklin, Macon, North Carolina; Roll: 2181; Sheet Number: 39; Enumeration District: 57-12
2. “Schools Operating.” The Franklin Press, August 27, 1964.
3. Scheidler, Andy. 2016. “Short Life, Long Legacy.” The Franklin Press, September 6, 2016. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy141.nclive.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&t=pubname%3AFPF1%21Franklin%2BPress%252C%2BThe%2B%2528NC%2529&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=thomas%20walter%20scruggs&docref=news/15F472E86D8ECFB0.
4. 1964. Franklin High School Yearbook.
5. 1966. Piedmont College Yearbook.
6. 1965. “Tar Heel Death Toll Goes Past Estimate.” The Asheville Citizen Times, December 28, 1965.
7. Parris, John. 1965. “Macon Pays Last Tribute to Athlete.” The Asheville Citizen Times, December 28, 1965.
8. 2016. “6 to Join Franklin Hall of Fame Tonight.” The Citizen Times, Asheville. October 20, 2016. https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/high-school/hshuddle/2016/10/20/6-join-franklin-hall-fame-tonight/92468932/.