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 sake of one institution. In Dougherty’s case, that fortunate institution was the University of Tennessee. Before he passed away at the proud age of 91 years, Dougherty had not only made his mark as a great Volunteer athlete, but had contributed to the promotion and development of UT sports through his work as Faculty Chairman of Athletics. A man of many talents, abundant energy, and unequaled devotion, Dougherty arrived at the Knoxville campus as a freshman in 1905 after journeying just eight miles from his family’s home on Clinton Pike. He was a husky six-footer who became captain of the football, basketball, and track teams. He made the All-Southern football team at guard in 1907-1908. Dougherty later returned to UT in 1916, where he eventually became a full professor and ultimately Dean of the School of Engineering. He still found the time to be Faculty Chairman of Athletics and was instrumental in bringing a young Robert R. Neyland to Knoxville, beginning the most fabulous era of Vol football. Dougherty also represented UT as Vice President of the NCAA Executive Committee and was instrumental in the formation of the Southeastern Conference. On the distinguished honor roll of Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame members, no name lends it more dignity than that of Nathan W. Dougherty.
