JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's athletic department mourns the passing of former C-N football center, Hall of Famer and longtime Fulton High School Athletic Director Bob Black.
His family announced he passed away Monday evening after being afflicted with Alzheimer's. He was 80 years old.
Black was inducted into the Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
The Carson-Newman football media guide described Black as "a fine offensive blocker but excels on defense." Excel he did earning Little All-American honors, as well as, News Sentinel All-Star, All-Conference, and team awards. Black also played baseball while attending Carson-Newman.
Black, who earned his All-America honors in 1963, was the football program's second-ever All-American.
After his playing career at C-N wrapped up, Black returned to his high school alma mater – Fulton – as a teacher and football coach.
Black served as head coach from 1969-1970 and remained on the coaching staff for many years. He coached his son Rob, before coaching alongside him for the Falcons.
The field at Falcon Stadium was renamed Bob Black Field in 1986 in his honor. He was inducted into the TSSAA Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
All told, Black spent four decades as Fulton's athletic director. In 2001, he was named the TSSAA Athletic Director of the Year.
