Ralph E. Buckley was born April 23, 1915 on a large farm at White Post, Clark County, Virginia.  Ralph attended White Post Elementary and Boyce High School, Boyce, Virginia. 

 

After high school, Ralph worked for a year on his parent’s farm before attending Shepherd College for two years.  He transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1936 and earned his BA degree in 1938.  He taught three years at Fairfax High School before being drafted into the Army, June 1941. 

 

He entered Officers Candidate School, Camp Davis, North Carolina in March 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Antiaircraft Artillery in June 1942.  Ralph married Edith Francisco of Beaverdam, Virginia, August 17, 1942. 

 

Following World War II, Ralph served as the assistant principal at Mt. Vernon High School, 1946-1954.  From 1954-1966, Ralph served as the principal of Annandale High School.  Following his years at Annandale, Ralph served as an assistant superintendent for the Fairfax Public Schools from 1966-1970 and as an area administrator from 1970-1977.

 

After retiring from the Fairfax Public Schools, Ralph was employed by the Northern Virginia Community College as Weekend Administrator from 1981-1989.  Ralph valued the good fortune of being born and reared on a farm because of the lessons of family togetherness and support.  This scholarship honors a man who dedicated his life to helping many young people throughout his career.  The Ralph E. Buckley Scholarship is funded by the Apple Federal Credit Union through a permanent endowment.