Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

The 2009 Inductees are as follows:

Philip Hutcheson --- Recently named the Athletic Director at David Lipscomb
University where he was a four-time All-American (1986-1990), "Hutch" brought national attention to the Bisons as he broke basketball's all-time scoring record. A true student athlete, he was named the 1990 Lipscomb Valedictorian the same year he was honored as the NAIA "Player of the Year."

*Joe Gilliam, Jr. (Posthumous) --- "Jefferson Street Joe" became a true legend in Music City starting at Pearl High School and later at Tennessee State University where he led the Tigers to two Black College National Championships. The famed All-American quarterback playing for the legendary TSU Coach "Big John" Merritt was drafted in the NFL by the Pittsburg Steelers and went on to win two Super Bowl rings. Off the field, Joe Gilliam, Jr's. life was not as successful as he was on the field. But many of the people who knew him consider him one of the best athletes ever to play the game of football.

Ronald "Woody" Hunt --- Longtime baseball coach at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, Coach Hunt has compiled a 1043-431-3 record ( .741 winning percentage) over his outstanding career. One of only six coaches to win more than 1,000 games in NAIA, Hunt was named "2006 Coach of the Year." In 2005 the Cumberland University Bulldogs was named "Amateur Team of the Year" by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. That year the Bulldogs set a school record for most wins in a season with a record of 59-21. In his career at Cumberland, Woody Hunt has coached more than 40 All-Americans and 65 players who went on to play professionally.

*Tommy Owen (posthumous) --- A 1948 graduate of Vanderbilt University where he played wingback for the legendary Red Sanders, former Montgomery Bell Academy head football Coach Tommy Owen believed that academics were of primary importance, but that athletics were a fundamental part of education. He believed that football demanded everything a young man had to give. At his retirement in1993, Coach Owen was the second most winning of Tennessee's active coaches and fifth most winning of all time. His 250 wins at MBA include 14 TSSAA playoff appearances and three state titles (1955, 1967 and 1968). In 1971 Owen left MBA to join Bill Pace's staff at Vanderbilt and later retuned to MBA. He died in August 1993.

Sarah Ingram --- Playing on more international teams and winning more national championships than any Tennessee golfer in its hundred-year history, Sarah Ingram left a permanent mark on amateur golf in the Volunteer State. Her career was highlighted by being a member of two Curtis Cup teams and two World Amateur Teams. Other career highlights include being selected first team All-American at Duke University, three USGA Mid Amateur Championships, Tennessee State Women's Amateur Champion, two Women's Southern and two Maryland State Women's Championships. Ingram was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sam Bartholomew, Jr. (Lifetime Achievement Inductee) --- A Kingsport, TN native, Bartholomew was an All-State selection his senior year and led Dobyns-Bennett High School to two state football championships. He was recruited by Coach Paul Dietzel to play at the United State Military Academy and was Captain of the first Army team to play in Neyland Stadium in 1965. At West Point he served as Cadet Captain. Following graduation, Bartholomew was a decorated Airborne Ranger Officer serving with the ¾ Armored Cavalry Squadron in Vietnam (1968-69).

Following graduation from Vanderbilt Law School in 1973, he started Stokes Bartholomew Law Firm. Other highlights include: founding member and director of the Nashville Sports Council and the Music City Bowl; President and Board member of the TSHF for 12 years; Board member Middle Tennessee Football Foundation; and Tennessee NFL Committee. Instrumental in bringing the Titans to Tennessee, he chaired the "Just Build It' Committee raising over $100 million in suite sales essential in getting the Houston Oilers to Nashville. Awarded "Governor's Outstanding Tennessean of the Year" in 1984, he was chairman of the 1996 Tennessee US Olympic Committee and was named "Father of the Year" in 2004 by National Diabetes Association.

Stan Huntsman --- In his 39-year career as a head track and field coach, Huntsman compiled 46 conference championships during his tenures at the University of Tennessee (15 years), Ohio University (14 years) and the University of Texas (10 years). He coached 41 NCAA champions and four national champion relay squads and led Tennessee to two NCAA team championships (1972 and 1974). Huntsman was NCAA National Coach of the Year six times while at Tennessee, served as head coach for the 1988 Olympic Games, the 1983 World Championshipm and the 1977 World Cup. He was inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame in 2004.

Chip Kell --- To this day Chip Kell is remembered for his strength and speed at the University of Tennessee. The Decatur, GA native was highly recruited out of high school and chose the Volunteers over teams like Southern Cal and all major SEC schools. One of only four Vols to be named All -SEC three times, Kell was a two time All-American and twice won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the SEC. A two-sport athlete while on "The Hill," Kell won the SEC title in the shot put in track and field. In 1970, with Kell as center and captain, the Volunteers went undefeated at Shields-Watkins Field. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1971 and later played in the Canadian Football League. Kell was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Andy Nelson --- A native of Athens, AL, Nelson was a standout quarterback/defensive back for the Memphis State Tigers where he earned All-American honors and served as team co-captain in 1956. Following his graduation, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts where he started as strong safety for seven years. During his tenure with the Colts, Nelson was selected to the All Pro team and played in two world championships (1958 and 1959) while leading the league in interceptions and return yardage. He stared in the 1958 Colts/Giants game, the first overtime (sudden death) game in NFL history. Many still consider that the greatest game ever played. Nelson was voted on the All Time Baltimore Colts Team for the 50th Anniversary in May 2003. Following his playing career, Nelson enjoyed an outstanding coaching career in the Atlantic Coast Football League and the World Football League. In 1976 he was inducted into the Memphis State Hall of Fame.

Tim Priest --- A native of Huntingdon, TN, Priest starred as a defensive standout on Tennessee's outstanding teams in the late 1960s and early 1970s earning All-SEC honors. He was named captain of the 11-1 1970 team and is the Vols all time interceptions pass interceptions leader with 18. In addition, Priest was an outstanding student earning GTE Academic All-American honors and selected Academic All-SEC in 1969 and 1970. Priest was awarded the NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Award which he used to further his education earning a degree from University of Tennessee College of Law. He is currently a practicing attorney in Knoxville in addition to serving as color analyst for the Vol Network Broadcast Team with Bob Kesling.

Elliot Perry --- A native of Memphis, Perry is the University of Memphis second all-time leading scorer leading his team to four straight postseason tournaments and 76 wins over his career. Perry, who started every game of his four year career, lead the team in scoring, assists and steals three consecutive years. As a freshman, he led the Tigers to a 20-12 record and a NCAA bid. He was named Metro Conference Freshman of the Year and Sport Magazine's freshman point guard of the year. Perry led the Metro Conference in scoring his senior year with a 20.8 average and in steals with 8.5 and was again named to the All-Conference team. He became Memphis' and the Metro Conference's career leader in steals with 300 and became just the tenth player in NCAA history to amass 300 steals. Following graduation Perry spent 11 years in the NBA and is currently working with the University of Memphis Athletic Department.