Scruggs-Hosted M-Club Luncheon Targeted by Erroneous Web Site Report

A controversy instigated by an erroneous Web site report has failed to dampen enthusiasm for the M-Club Alumni Summer Weekend. 
Members of Ole Miss’ M-Club will return to Oxford for the annual Summer Weekend Aug. 8-10. The weekend always boasts luncheons, a rousing golf tournament, and an awards banquet all too raise money for a worthy cause: the J.W. “Wobble” Davidson Scholarship.This year, the Saturday luncheon will be hosted at the home of Dickie Scruggs and his wife Diane.
The M-Club’s Summer Weekend hosts thousands of guests each year, but one organization is trying to smear the name of the philanthropic event. YallPolitics reported that the M-Club is selling tickets for $30 to tour the home of Dickie and Diane Scruggs on Saturday of the weekend. The YallPolitics report said: “[Some M-Club] members thought the tour of Scruggs’ home was in generally poor taste given his recent release from prison on federal bribery convictions.”
In  reality, the Scruggs have generously donated their home for the luncheon to benefit Ole Miss, where Diane and Dickie are alumni. According to Associate Director of Alumni Affairs Clay Cavett, Saturday’s luncheon at the Scruggs home is for members’ spouses and/or guests while members compete in the annual golf tournament and the $30 is for lunch, decorations, and scholarships, of course.
While some members may be upset with the M-Club for scheduling an event at the Scruggs home, Cavett said that Mr. Scruggs’ past never came into question.
“The Scruggs offered their home for this event several years ago, so we jumped at it. The have a beautiful home,” Cavett said. “We are absolutely not selling tours.”
Established in 1962, the Davidson Scholarship is named for one of Ole Miss’ legendary assistant football coaches. According to the Alumni Association, the scholarship is available to all prospective full-time students who remain in good academic standing and is largely based on need.
During previous M-Club Summer Weekends, this Saturday luncheon has been hosted at the Oxford-University Club, The Inn at Ole Miss and the home of Sam and Mary Haskell.
Below is a full schedule of events for the 2014 M-Club Alumni Summer Weekend: