Inductees 115419

Theophilus Nash Buckingham (1880-1971) was a star fullback and captain of the Tennessee Volunteers’ team, which he also helped coach. He was selected as an All-Southern tackle in 1902. Additionally,… 6p313n

George Bugbee, who became sports editor emeritus of the “Memphis Press Scimitar” in 1973 after forty-five years of service to the paper, was one of the most-renowned sports writers in…

Keith Bulluck played linebacker in the National Football League for 11 seasons. Born on April 4, 1977, in Suffern, New York, Bulluck attended Clarkstown North High School in New City,…

Born in 1914 and reared on a farm near Martin, Tennessee, Floyd Burdette lived close to an outdoor basketball court, and you can bet the young Floyd was out playing…

Chris Burke was a standout baseball player at the University of Tennessee, where he was named to three All-American teams. In 1990, Burke was selected as a Freshman 2nd team…

Ken Burkhart is another in the line of great baseball players from Tennessee who have brought honor and distinction to our proud state. Born in Middleton, Tennessee, Burkhart grew up…

Some people are simply born to coach. Ray Bussard is surely one of those people. Even before he had arrived at the University of Tennessee in 1966 to begin his…

Thay Butchee’s tennis career is a remarkable journey of ion, dedication, and skill. From his early days in Shreveport, LA., to becoming a renowned senior tennis competitor, Butchee’s path has…

Known in his playing days as “Gone with the Wind” or as “Blood,” Johnny Butler played tailback for the University of Tennessee from 1939 to 1941. He made what many…

At the University of Memphis, Keith Butler developed a reputation as a fierce linebacker. He carried that intensity into the NFL and a long career with the Seattle Seahawks. Now,…

Tennessee has a rich tradition of great sportswriters and broadcasters, from Grantland Rice to Lindsey Nelson. Among that elite and articulate gang is Knoxville native Ben Byrd, who was sports…

From his earliest childhood days, Jeff Byrd seemed destined to a career in sports. An avid fan of all sports, Byrd briefly played football at Wake Forest University, where he…

One of the most successful and respected coaches in the country, Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been a model of consistency in leading Belmonts transition from an NAIA…

George Cafego came out of the coal mining district of West Virginia to become one of Tennessee’s backfield stars. Hall of Fame Coach Bob Neyland called Cafego a “practice bum….

Six brothers dedicated to their faith, family and football. In John Branston’s, Rowdy Memphis, he called the Canale Brothers “The first family of Memphis jockdom.” The brothers would have disavowed…

Larry Carrier’s contributions to the auto racing industry and the state of Tennessee earned him an honored seat in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Carrier was president and founder…

Bob Carroll is the winningest football coach in the history of the University of Tennessee at Martin. During his coaching tenure from 1957 to 1974, UTM made the transition from…

All Erselle D. “Red” Cavette ever wanted was the chance to play. Born October 5, 1905 on a small farm in Mississippi, Cavette went to school in a one-room, one-teacher…

Fran Chandler was born in Jackson, Tennessee. Except for her college years, she has lived there all her life. She attended Jackson Central-Merry High School were she was runner-up in…

Coach Mack Chandler was considered by many to be the “iron man” of high school basketball coaches. In his 31 years as a head coach of varsity boys and girls…