Karns High honors its Hall of Fame inductees
“He may have been a giant of a man, but he also was a teddy bear – our teddy bear.” – Dewanna Glover
By Steve Williams
R.T. Everette, Jr., most commonly known as Tommy, was the first to be inducted into the inaugural Karns High School Athletic Hall of Fame late last month. It was fitting too that he was posthumously inducted as the Athletic Hall of Fame Contributor.
“Tommy exemplified the very best of what it means to be a leader, trailblazer, and an inspiration,” said longtime Karns cheer coach Dewanna Glover. “His love and dedication to Karns High left a lasting mark.”
Over the course of Tommy’s 19 years as principal of KHS, he oversaw and spearheaded the building of the football stadium, track, concession stand, and baseball field.
Everette’s wife Carolynn and daughter Kristi attended the induction banquet.
Karns Athletic Director Hunter Fendley opened and closed the ceremony. Heather Waliga (Karns graduate) of the Channel 10 TV morning show was the master of ceremonies.
The Hall of Fame Coaches
Rick Cathey had a remarkable 43-year career as he coached track, cross country, football, and wrestling at Karns, mentoring countless athletes along the way. In 1990, alongside Everette, he helped raise funds and personally built the 8-lane track at KHS.
Rick received numerous KIL Coach of the Year awards plus Region 1 Coach of the Year, and was recognized in 1994 when Karns was named one of the Top 15 high school programs in America by U.S. Track and Field.
Among his proudest moments was watching Lesly Love win Karns’ first-ever state championship in track.
Joe Dooley laid the foundation for girls’ athletics at Karns. When girls’ sports began in 1974, he stepped up as the very first coach for girls’ softball, basketball, and soccer. His greatest coaching achievement came when he guided the girls’ basketball team to the 1979-80 state tournament, where the Beaverettes finished as state runners-up.
The Hall of Fame Team
One of the most talented teams in Karns High history was the 1979-80 girls basketball team. This remarkable group was led by seniors Pat Hatmaker, Kim Bittle, Kim Wells, and Lynn Beth Penny. Together, with their leadership and determination, this team achieved an impressive overall record of 104-19, including a 33-4 mark in their celebrated season.
Their run for a state championship was unforgettable. In the opening round, facing Maplewood and trailing by one in the final seconds, Karns put the ball in the hands of Hatmaker. From beyond half court, the talented senior launched a shot that found the net – a buzzer-beater that lifted the Beaverettes into the semifinals.
Riding that momentum, they went on to defeat Memphis Carver 73-53, securing a spot in the state title game. In the finals against Nashville Pearl, they battled hard. Though Pearl pulled away in the middle quarters, Karns showed their trademark resilience, mounting a strong comeback in the fourth quarter. While they ultimately fell short, it was one of the most memorable teams ever to wear the Blue and Gold.
The 1979-80 girls basketball team members and coaches – Kim Bittle, Pat Hatmaker, Lynn Beth Penny, Kim Wells, Cathy Hayes, Nancy Caldwell, Paula Dohoney, Tammy Bennet, Emily Butler, Krista Hodge, Joe Dooley and Marilyn McClain.
The Hall of Fame Athletes
Terri Neal Griffith, Class of 1982, was a multi-sport athlete at Karns, excelling in both basketball and volleyball. She made history as the first volleyball player at Karns to be named to the All-State team and the first to earn a Division I scholarship.
At ETSU, Griffith was selected to the All-Southern Conference team. She also distinguished herself academically as the top graduating Education major.
Terri returned to Karns as a teacher and head volleyball coach, leading the program for 15 years. She was named District Coach of the Year nine times and guided her teams to the Sub-State five times.
Pat Hatmaker, Class of 1980, was a true multi-sport athlete at Karns, competing in volleyball, softball, and track and field. But Pat is best remembered as the most successful girls’ basketball player in school history. She was also recognized as a High School All-American. Her name still stands in the record books – scoring over 2,000 points in just three years, and holding the record for the most points (53) in a single game.
After high school, Pat continued her basketball career at UT. Her teams reached the Final Four three times and she was honored with both the Best Defensive Player Award and the Coaches’ Award.
Lesly Love, Class of 1996, was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Karns, excelling in both basketball and track. On the basketball court, she scored over 1,000 career points and earned All-State honors. But it was on the track where Lesly made history. In 1994, she captured state titles in both the 200 and 400-meter races, becoming the first female in Karns history to win a state crown.
Lesly’s name still dominates the Karns record book as she holds school records in the 100, 200, 400, and 800-meter events.
Love continued her athletic career on the UT track team and became a two-time All-American.
Frank Bryant, Jr., Class of 1991, was a determined and talented wrestler in the 119-pound weight class and became the first wrestler at Karns to win a state title.
That achievement earned him a coveted appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where he continued his wrestling career. At the Academy, he was named team captain and recognized as the Most Valuable Wrestler.
Tragically, Frank was killed in action while serving his country. Though gone too soon, his life remains a legacy of courage, leadership, and sacrifice.
Wilbert Cherry, Class of 1971, was a standout athlete for Karns on the basketball court. But shortly after graduation, Wilbert was involved in a serious accident that left him unable to walk. Doctors told him he would never return to the game, and his scholarship offers were withdrawn.
Cherry refused to be defined by that setback. Through determination and resilience, he fought his way back onto the court and walked on at the University of Tennessee, where he made history as the first African American to play basketball for the Volunteers.
John Jackson, Class of 2004, was an exceptional multi-sport athlete at Karns, excelling in both football and track.
He made 102 tackles his senior season and earned honorable mention on the Class 5A All-State team.
Jackson was named the 2004 KIL Most Outstanding Field Event Athlete in the discus and shot put and won the state title in the discus.
John continued his athletic career in football at Tennessee Tech and was the 2007 team captain and earned OVC All-Conference honors in both 2005 and 2007.
JJ McCleskey, Class of 1988, was an outstanding football player at Karns and an undersized walk-on at Tennessee. JJ quickly developed into a versatile, multi-position athlete – playing wide receiver, cornerback, and as he likes to recall, even tackle on the kickoff return team.
By his senior year, he was team captain and had competed in four bowl games and won two SEC championships.
After college, JJ continued his football career in the NFL, playing for the New Orleans Saints from 1993-1996 and the Arizona Cardinals from 1996-2000. Today, he is passing on his knowledge and passion for the game as the defensive backs coach at Tulane University.
Doug Roth, Class of 1984, entered high school as a tall, lanky student athlete, and little did Karns’ basketball fans know the transformation they would see in his prep career. The four-year letterman helped the Beavers win over 100 games and turned out to be one of the nation’s top big men.
Roth was a two-time All-Stater and added national honors as a McDonald’s All-American. In fact, he became the first McDonald’s All-American to play at Tennessee. He signed with the Vols in 1985 and it was 32 years before another Knoxville high school player signed with UT.
In 1989, Doug’s journey continued at the professional level when he was selected as the 41st overall pick in the NBA draft by the Washington Bullets.
