John “Graham” Vowell was born in 1895 near Martin, TN, where he attended McFerrin School. In 1913, Graham and his older brother, Morris, enrolled at the University of Tennessee, where the brothers became known as “Big” and “Little” Vowell. Morris “Big” Vowell played tackle and Graham “Little” Vowell played end for the Vols. The brothers played side-by-side on the line for three years, 1914 through 1916.
In 1916, Georgia Tech Coach, John Heisman, named Graham to his All-Southern team. “In taking G. Vowell, captain of Tennessee, for one end we can hardly make a mistake. This chap is very big for an end, weighing 190 pounds, very fast and very willing. He knows the game as very few ends know it in the South, and he can do most everything the game calls for and do it well. He gets down the field like an express train, he runs hard and well with the ball, he dams things up on defense all the time, and he catches most anything in the shape of a forward pass,” said Heisman.
In 1916, Collier’s Magazine announced its All-American teams, as selected by the legendary Walter Camp, with Graham being named a “third-eleven” selection. This made him the first Tennessee player recognized beyond the regional level, and thus the first Vol to make an All-American list. Graham also played on Tennessee’s first team to go undefeated and win a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship in 1914.
After serving in the United States Marines during WWI, Graham played his final year at Tennessee as a tackle, making All-Southern again, despite the long layoff and position change. In 1921, after his playing career was over, fans in Knoxville gathered a purse to purchase a gold watch to be given to Graham acknowledging that he “came back” after WW1 to finish his Vol career. Graham passed away in 1963 at the age of 68.