Scholarship funds available for police training
10th Annual Cliff Dicker Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic
Monday, May 12, at Draper Valley Golf Club
Rain date: Wednesday, May 21
Info: 223-6000 or 223-6005
By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff
Several factors influenced Jeremiah Musser to pursue a career in law enforcement. His high school resource officer, his mother and the Cliff Dicker Memorial Scholarship led to a decision he has never regretted.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” recalled Musser, now the resource officer at Fort Chiswell High School through the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office. “Jeff Freeman was the resource officer at Rural Retreat High School my senior year and he talked to me about law enforcement. He went to Bluefield College and he told me about the program there. I decided I wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement.”
During his senior at Rural Retreat High School, Musser applied for the scholarship established by the Sheriff’s Office in memory of Deputy Dicker who was murdered in the line of duty on Dec. 6, 1994. He was required to write an essay as part of the application process.
“My Mom encouraged me to do it,” Musser noted. “When I realized Mr. Dicker lost his life in the line of duty, it inspired me to write the essay. I had to write about what his life as a deputy meant to me as a young person wanting to go into law enforcement.”
He was selected as the scholarship recipient for Rural Retreat High School in 2000. Scholarships also are awarded at Fort Chiswell High School and George Wythe High School as directed by the guidelines established 10 years ago.
After graduation, Musser enrolled in the criminal justice curriculum at Bluefield College. He earned his bachelor of science degree in 2004.
“It’s a great program,” Musser stated. “The last semester I had the option to go to the police academy as pre-employment and to be certified. I was hired out of the academy by the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.”
He began as a DARE officer and was certified to teach DARE classes in 2006. In January 2007, Musser became the resource officer at Fort Chiswell High School.
“I enjoy my job,” he commented. “People are more accepting of the resource officers now. They see the need. I talk to the kids when they need to talk and I answer their legal questions. I think I give them a sense of security.”
Musser coaches eighth-grade boys’ basketball, too. He works most of the sporting events and other school-related activities.
His wife, the former Sarah Howell of Richmond, whom he met at Bluefield State College, teaches first grade at Fancy Gap Elementary School in Carroll County. They reside on Major Graham’s Road and attend Graham’s Forge United Methodist Church.
Musser’s mom, Chesley Musser, is secretary at Rural Retreat High School, a job she’s held for more than 40 years. His dad, Gerald Musser, is water treatment plant operator for the town of Rural Retreat.
Musser’s brother, Keith Musser, is co-operator of Rural Retreat Mills with their uncle, Kenny Tibbs.
Fishing and golfing are listed by Musser as his hobbies. He is a member of the Mt. Airy Masonic Lodge 226 in Rural Retreat.
“I could fish the rest of my life,” he stated, “to make it where Jeff Freeman made it. He went to the super bowl of fishing. That’s every fisherman’s dream. Jeff’s always been my idol.”
Musser is a regular player in the Cliff Dicker Memorial Scholarship Golf Club Classic having played the last five years. He plans to be on a team for the 10th annual event on Monday, May 12, at the Draper Valley Golf Club.
Usually, Musser plays on the team with Chief Deputy Keith Dunagan, Mike Blevins of Lindsey Funeral Home in Rural Retreat and Chris Bailey of Klockner Pentaplast of America. They were tournament winners one year.
“It’s a great tournament,” said Musser. “It raises money for a great cause. I attend the memorial service for Cliff every year and I feel proud I won the scholarship. I’m glad my mom made me take the time to apply. It means more to me now being in the same line of work.”
Dunagan added, “The Cliff Dicker scholarships are now the biggest non-educationally sponsored scholarships in the community.”
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenb@wythenews.com.
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
