Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Dr. Bill Emendorfer
Inducted into the Cleveland High School first Hall of Fame
Cleveland High School Principal Autumn O’Bryan said this new annual tradition is a way to honor Cleveland graduates who are now role models for current students. The former Cleveland High School and University of Tennessee football and wrestling standout was among 22 inductees in the dinner ceremony. Awhile attending Cleveland High School Emendorfer started every football game from the eighth grade until graduation. He was All-Tri State, All East-Tennessee, All State and One of the Nation’s top ten High School All-Americans.
Emendorfer was player of the year in East Tennessee in 1968 and Captain of Cleveland High School’s first state championship football team. He was also was the first wrestler to place in the state tournament from the school, placing third as a freshman.
He accepted a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee in 1969. As a freshman Emendorfer played offensive guard and defensive tackle and was runner-up to Georgia’s tailback Ricky Lake for freshman of the year in the SEC.
Emendorfer started all 36 varsity games as a Vol. As a sophomore he played defensive tackle where he made Football News Second Team All-American; as a Junior he played offensive guard and received second team All-SEC honors; and his senior season he was alternate captain, first team All-SEC and honorable mention All-American.
While at Tennessee Emendorfer was a member of UT’s first wrestling team, becoming the first UT wrestler to win a match in the National Tournament.
After graduation in 1973, he coached at Tennessee as a graduate assistant for two years before entering dental school. He has his Doctorate from the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis.
Years later he was named to the All-Decade team at Tennessee for the 1970’s as an offensive guard. He was also selected the honorary captain of that team by the sports writers. In 2005, Emendorfer was recognized as a Tennessee Sports Legend before the University of Memphis vs. UT Vols football game.