Sam Copeland Alumni Benefit on Sept. 29

Will honor Sam Copeland and his family

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – The South Ripley basketball community will honor an alum who passed away last month. 

50-year-old Sam Copeland passed away from a cancer battle on August 23. 

He graduated from South Ripley in 1992. Copeland was the tallest Raider basketball player ever at 6’10”. He still holds the school record for the most blocked shots. 

“Sam was a gentle giant. He loved kids. He would do anything for anyone and many times without compensation. He was a friend to everyone and someone who would literally give the shirt off his back,” said former South Ripley basketball coach Bob Meyer. 

Sam worked with his father at Copeland Construction and Excavating as well as UPS for several years. He also served as the Brown Township Trustee. 

The Sam Copeland SR Alumni Benefit will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 29 at Tyson Activity Center. 

There will be two games, one with older alumni and the other with more recent graduates.

A special presentation will also take place in between the games. 

There will also be food, t-shirts, and other fun activities. “This benefit is to help Amy pay the funeral expenses and help with some unpaid medical bills,” Meyer added. 

The family of Carson Hughes has donated one of Carson’s prints for a silent auction as well.