Inductees
Davis Sr., Leo James
At Drumright High School in Oklahoma, Leo James Davis Sr. laid the groundwork for an active career in athletics by lettering four years each in football, basketball, and baseball, as…
Davis, A.W.
A native of Rutledge, Tennessee, A. W. Davis is truly one of the all-time greats in Volunteer basketball history. Most notably, he holds the distinction of being the first UT…
Davis, Charles
Charles Davis promised to come back. He vowed that if he ever made it to the NBA, he would return to the poor neighborhood in Nashville where he grew up,…
Davis, Charles
Charles Davis played defensive back for the University of Tennessee football team from 1982 to 1986. While at Tennessee, Davis earned a master’s degree in history. Davis went undrafted in…
Davis, Joe
One of the finest clay court tennis players ever to come out of the southeast, Nashville’s Joe Davis had a stellar competitive career which lasted over fifty years. He attended…
Davis, Walter Strother
Dr. Walter Strother Davis is considered “The Father of Athletics at Tennessee State University.” Looking at his career, the title becomes obvious. From 1943 to 1968 Dr. Davis laid the…
Delay, William Fred
The late Coach William Fred DeLay approached every endeavor with integrity and compassion, and this, more than any victories, was his lasting legacy. Born in Tennessee, DeLay graduated from Massy…
Delk, Tony
Tony Delk is a 10-year NBA veteran, sports commentator, and entrepreneur. He was born in Covington, Tennessee and raised in Brownsville. He was born to Florence and Leslie Delk Sr….
DeLong, Steve
There weren’t too many bright spots on the University of Tennessee football teams of 1962 to 1964. The teams went 13-16-1 over those turmoil-filled years which saw three different coaches…
Demmas, Art
An All-American high school football player, Art Demmas went on to become a four-year letterman at Vanderbilt University and co-captain of the 1956 team. As a lineman for the Commodores,…
Dent, Richard
A native of Atlanta, Richard Dent made his mark on the football history of Tennessee State University before heading to the NFL. Dent was recruited by coaching legend John Merritt…
Dickens, Phil
Tennesseean of the Year If you saw him play or listened to stories told about him, you might have known Phil Dickens better as “Phantom Phil.” Phil Dickens, a native…
Dickey, Eldridge
Eldridge Dickey’s football career at Tennessee State University spanned from 1964-1967. He was a three-time HBCU All-American. In 1966, Dickey led the school to its first undefeated, untied and National Black College Football…
Dockery, Rex
Sometimes careers are cut short at the height of greatness. Such was the case for Memphis State University Football Coach Rex Dockery, who died in 1983 at the young age…
Dodd, Bobby
Robert Lee “Bobby” Dodd was a winner all the way. In high school at Kingsport, Tennessee, he starred in football, basketball, and baseball. He tried tennis and won the city…
Donahue, Ken
Those who knew Ken Donahue would marvel at his devotion to coaching football. His former associates, friends and family would speak of his endless hours and the boundless energy he…
Donnelly, James “Boots”
“If you love coaching, it gets in your blood and stays there.” So said “Boots” Donnelly, whose impressive twenty-season career as head football coach at Middle Tennessee State University came…
Dougherty, Nathan W.
It may be cliché, but they just don’t make ‘em like Nathan W. Dougherty anymore. Few people devote so much of their lives and accomplish so many things for the…
Dr. Andrew J. Kozar
Born in Pennsylvania in 1930, Andrew Kozar enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1948. Over thirty years later, Dr. Kozar’s illustrious affiliation with the school as an athlete, alumnus,…
Dudley, A. F. “Bud”
Although as football fans, we tend to think that bowl games have been played since the beginning of time, the fact remains that individuals, through hard work and vision, actually…