Hal Littleford was an outstanding baseball and football player at Tennessee High School in Bristol, Tennessee, where he was named to everyone’s all-state football team. As gridiron star for the University of Tennessee, he was captain of the 1949 team. He also lettered in baseball. After graduation, East Tennessee State University saw a chance to get a real winner and added Littleford as a member of its athletic staff. In 1954 as head football coach for ETSU, he led his team to the Volunteer Athletic Conference Championship, and he was voted Coach of the Year. In 1955 Littleford became a life insurance salesman and has been recognized as a leader of the Life Underwriters’ Association throughout the state. His civic leadership did not go unnoticed, as he was elected mayor of Johnson City for two years and had a great impact on city and county growth and development. Littleford served in the army during World War II and the Korean Conflict. After active duty, he remained in the U.S. Army Reserve program for over twenty-five years and retired as a lieutenant colonel. A past president of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association and an honorary lifetime member of the University of Tennessee Athletic Board, Littleford has certainly served his state and his country with distinction, pride, and success.
