Carson-Newman to Induct Seven in 2012 C-N Athletic Hall of Fame Class

From C-N Athletics:

The 2012 inductees are: Bud Bales (Baseball, Class of 1964), Ben Booker (Basketball and Football, Class of 1943), Clark Bryan (Basketball and Track, Class of 1963), Derrick Davis (Soccer, Class of 1961), George “Buzzy” Mann (Wrestling, Class of 1982), Danny Maples (Baseball, Class of 1977), and Jim Shuler (Basketball and Tennis, Class of 1966).

“This Hall of Fame class represents the best in the rich athletics heritage of Carson-Newman,” Barger said. “But even more significant is the personal and professional contributions they have made to society.”

This is the 14th class to be inducted since the first class was brought in in 1985 and included former Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, Bernie Moore, football coaching legend Dana X. Bible, and C-N coach and athletic director Sam “Frosty” Holt.

C-N Head Football Coach Ken Sparks, Head Softball Coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield, and Head Tennis Coach Jean Love are also in the C-N Athletic Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 7 at 10 a.m. on the Carson-Newman campus. Tickets to the brunch are $25 and can be purchased by contacting the C-N Ticket Office at (865) 471-3396.

2012 Carson-Newman Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Bud Bales (Class 1964): A four year standout in the sport of baseball, Bales spent 5 years in the Chicago Cubs organization. His coaching career at Knoxville Central High School was equally impressive with 24 District and regional Titles, a state championship (1990; 31-0, ranked top 15 nationally) and 27 Coach of the Year honors. Coach Bales is a member of the Knoxville Sports HOF, East Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association HOF, Tennessee Baseball Coaches HOF and C-N Team of the Century. Bales is an active churchman and involved in church and community affairs.

Ben Booker (Class 1943): Booker earned 8 athletics letters at C-N; 4 in basketball and 4 in football. His hallmark characteristics were clutch shooting, competitive spirit, and floor game strategy. He was a 4 year starter in football at quarterback and defensive back. Booker played every minute of every game for two consecutive seasons. He served as president of his class, president of Columbians and was an outstanding chemistry student. He was an alumni leader in raising money to build Holt Fieldhouse. Booker was a research chemist at Oak Ridge on the atomic bomb “Manhattan Project” and then became a career employee with the Eastman Company.

Clark Bryan (Class 1963): In 1961, Bryan was named Honorable Mention Basketball All-American. That same year, the four year letterman was honored as the MVP of the Volunteer State Athletic Conference. During his 4 year career, the Eagles appeared in three national tournaments. Bryan participated 3 years in track and was Co-Captain. He was active in Student Government, Blue Key, Columbians, and a BSU summer missionary to France. A C-N Distinguished Alumni Recipient, Bryan served C-N as a VP and Truett-McConnell College as a president (1992 – 2001).

Derrick Davis (Class 1961): A pioneer of Carson-Newman soccer, Derrick Davis was instrumental in piecing together the first C-N men’s soccer team in 1959. He served as the Eagles’ coach and captain with the team having to pay for its own expenses. After Davis guided the Eagles to two successful seasons, Athletics Director, Frosty Holt made soccer a varsity sport the following year. C-N soccer has been a leader in the sport ever since. Davis’ soccer team was also instrumental in the racial integration of the C-N sports teams.

Danny Maples (Class 1977): Baseball All-American Danny Maples earned his team’s MVP honors as well as the 1977 Eagle Club Male Athlete of the Year Award. A team leader in batting coverage, home runs, and RBI’s, he was tabbed as a member of the C-N Baseball Team of the Century. Maples coached on both the college and high school levels. He won over 75% of his games as head coach at Powell High School which included 9 District and Regional titles and a State Runner-up finish. He was a 1999 inductee into the East Tennessee Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. Businessman, volunteer coach, and Journey Board of Directors, Maples attends Beaver Dam Baptist Church.

George “Buzzy” Mann (Class 1982): A two-year standout in the Carson-Newman wrestling program, George “Buzzy” Mann qualified for nationals both years for the Eagles and earned NCCAA All-American honors in 1982. Following his college career, Mann began what is now a 25-year coaching career with stints at Carson-Newman, Greeneville High School and currently as head coach at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett. Mann has amassed 303 career wins and has coached five state finalists, one state champion and 41 region champions. Mann also began the first AAU wrestling program in Kingsport in 1997 and began middle school programs in Kingsport at Sevier and Robinson middle schools in 2004. For his contributions to the sport, Mann was inducted into the Tennessee chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in the Class of 2010.

Jim Shuler (Class 1966): A two sport athlete in basketball and tennis, Shuler has made his mark in the sport of basketball. NAIA All-American, conference MVP, national tournament participant, he was a member of the AAU-NAIA Goodwill Team that toured South America and the Caribbean. Elected Mr. C-N in 1965, Shuler coached 31 years, 23 years at the collegiate level. During his 19 year stint at Texas Lutheran, he coached 7 All-Americans and advanced to post season play 11 times. A tenured Assistant Professor in Kinesiology, Shuler received the Distinguished Faculty Award at TLU in 2001.