Rupel left lasting mark at ULV
Campus Times
October 17, 1997
Milan Rupel, shown here at a 1989 baseball game against Redlands,
was called "the world's oldest bat boy" by head baseball coach
Owen Wright because of his ongoing support for the team.
Milan E. Rupel, 62, of La Verne died of complications due to liver and
kidney failure last Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical
Center in Pomona.
Born March 5, 1935, Rupel was what many people would have considered
a "pillar" of the University of La Verne community.
After attending La Verne College for two years, he left La Verne to
work for the United States Forest Service in San Bernardino.
Rupel served as a captain in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s and used
his rank to become an engineer with the Los Angeles County Fire Department
in 1957, where he served for 36 years before retiring in 1993.
"Milan loved his job and every one loved Milan," said Bev
Rupel, his wife and biggest supporter.
During his tenure with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Rupel's
drive was to help others, mainly his friends. It just so happens that one
of his good friends was head coach of baseball at La Verne College, Ben
Hines. Hines immediately took to Rupel's philosophy of life and brought
Rupel to the team in 1972.
Rupel was not a coach, but a motivator and a teacher to those young
men who looked up to him. He was a charter member of the La Verne Athletic
Associates (LVAA) and a true stand out in La Verne's social atmosphere.
"Milan was a unique individual and one of a kind. He was not a
coach, but what we called 'the world's oldest bat boy'. He would chalk the
lines, bring bats to the players and give sound advice," said head
baseball coach and friend Owen Wright.
Rupel followed Hines' team in 1972 to the first NAIA national championship
in La Verne College's history and helped keep the team members interested
in baseball and in achieving their goals.
"Milan would tell you what he thought of what you were doing, good
or bad, he was just that type of guy," said Wright.
After that season Rupel continued to follow the progress of La Verne
baseball from the dugout as a "bat boy" and was also with the
team in 1995 when ULV captured its first Division III national championship.
"There was not a trip he did not go on with our team. He traveled
to Hawaii, to the east and south, and he just made everything fit. Milan
had a role and he played it fully," said Wright.
"He came into La Verne athletics a champion and left a champion,"
added Wright.
One thing that Rupel did not expect to slow him down in the 1980s was
lymphoma -- a deadly, cancerous tumor in the lymphoid tissue -- and friends
say it did not. He recovered almost fully and continued to support baseball
and he leant even more support to the women's volleyball team in the 1980s
and '90s.
Rupel helped friend and head volleyball coach Jim Paschal with different
areas of the team. Again he was not considered a coach, but rather a father
figure and a mentor to the volleyball players.
Rupel took the departing seniors out for elaborate dinners at four star
restaurants as a reward and on team trips would point out and stop at historical
sights in order to teach the women the importance of nature. On the day
of senior recognition, Rupel would buy each departing senior woman a bouquet
of flowers.
"Milan was a La Verne type of guy. He loved the University of La
Verne and it showed in what he did," said Paschal.
"Milan was not only the type of guy that would be at the games,
but he would be at practice too," he added.
This season, the women's volleyball team will wear black arm bands with
the initials "MR" in remembrance of Rupel.
"I will definitely miss Milan, as will all the athletes that have
ever come in contact with him," said Paschal.
According to Paschal, Rupel taught many lessons to the athletes, one
being that giving is better than receiving. In his time as a La Verne supporter,
he gave countless amounts of money for uniforms, equipment, dinners, and
trips and was a fan of both volleyball and baseball for many years.
"Milan always took a stand on issues and would defend that stand
until the end. He was a doer, when he wanted something done, he would do
it," said Paschal.
"A big part of Milan's life was helping others. He truly got so
much inner pleasure from working with the coaches and players at La Verne,"
said Bev.
Rupel was also a member of the La Verne Church of the Brethren and supported
the church with both his time and money.
"Milan has always been a very important part of La Verne athletics.
He has been more insightful in things that needed to be done, more so than
some coaches," said former head football coach Roland Ortmayer.
Rupel is survived by his wife Bev; two sons, Kent and J. Milan; and
one daughter, Jane.
"He gave extraordinary service to the La Verne Athletic Associates
and to our Athletic Department. All of us who had the privilege of knowing
Milan Rupel will miss his presence. Games without Milan will not be the
same," said President Stephen Morgan.
Services will be held tomorrow at the La Verne Church of the Brethren
at 3 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of La Verne
Rupel Scholarship Fund.
