Kansas Wesleyan University

At the time of his selection for the Hall of Fame, it was believed that Ruple was the first African-American to play football for KWU. Despite being the target of discrimination by teams who refused to take the field with him, Ruple earned first team All-KCAC honors as a freshman and sophomore. During the championship season of 1929, he was named second team All-State. At the time of his death, Mr. Perkins was Director of Recreation in Harlem, New York.