Barger, Cannon, Fishback, Isom and Julian enter C-N Athletics Hall of Fame

Carson-Newman will inducted five new members into its athletic hall of fame in a ceremony Saturday morning. This year’s inductees are David Barger (Administrator, ’70), Jerry Cannon (Basketball, ’67), Joe Fishback (Football, ’90), Mark Isom (Football, ’85) and Lib Julian (Basketball/Baseball, ’58).

“These honors are deserved for these men who excelled not only on the field of competition here at Carson-Newman,” C-N athletic director Allen Morgan said. “But also in their professional and personal lives once their playing days were done at this institution.”

DAVID BARGER

Class of 1970

David Barger has been a loyal servant to Carson-Newman and its mission through his 32 years in Athletics. His involvement, which began when he became a student trainer, remained steadfast as a staunch supporter during his decade in banking.

“It’s a great recognition and reflects the great legacy of Carson-Newman athletics,” Barger said. “But it pales in comparison to the excitement in my family’s eyes once they heard and witnessed the announcement.”

He returned to campus to work as director of Promotions and Development, and was promoted after some ten years to Athletics Director, a position he held for 22 years. In those two decades of leadership, he oversaw the Eagle Club’s first $100,000 fundraising campaign, led expanded media coverage of C-N sports programs, nurtured C-N’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, hired the first Senior Woman Administrator in the South Atlantic Conference and fostered a 25% increase in student athlete participation. Under his tutelage, Carson-Newman was the first SAC institution to compete for a NCAA National Championship. He was named Athletics Director Emeritus May 1, 2012.

JERRY CANNON

Class of 1967

NAIA All-American Jerry Cannon scored 1462 points – eighth on the all-time scoring list at Carson-Newman – during the course of his basketball career. He took home all-conference or all-tournament honors five times in his career.

“To be included with the caliber of athletes we have had here,” Cannon said. “It’s an honor to be among those players as well as coaches like Dick Campbell and Frosty Holt who built character.”

A member of the AAU-NAIA Goodwill Team that toured South America in 1964, he also participated in 1967’s Tennessee/Kentucky College All-Star Game. The retired educator is an active member of Knoxville’s West Park Baptist Church and has a long history of volunteer service in his community.

JOE FISHBACK

Class of 1990

Joe Fishback distinguished himself as one of C-N’s most decorated football players as a 3-year starter who amassed 293 tackles and 11 interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns.

“When I think about it, everything in my life has happened when it happened when God wanted it to happen,” Fishback said. “This is the perfect time to go in. I cherish the friendships with my guys and my coaches that I made in my time here.”

The NAIA All-American participated in four consecutive national championship contests from 1986 – 1989, bringing the title home in ’86 ’88 and ’89. He went on to play in the National Football League for five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. He was a member of the Cowboys’ special teams that helped Dallas capture the Lombardi Trophy in 1994 during Super Bowl XXVII.

MARK ISOM

Class of 1985

As a defensive standout, Mark Isom was a member of the 1983 and ’84 National Championship teams, earning All American honors in 1985. Since graduating, he has provided significant energy, visionary leadership and monetary support to Carson-Newman in general, and athletics in particular.

“There’s no telling where I would be without this university,” Isom said. “If you asked me if I would do it all over again, I’d say absolutely in a heartbeat. My entire life, God has watched over me. Every accolade that’s been voiced to me has happened because of Him.”

The founder, president and CEO of Knoxville’s Premiere Building Maintenance, has built an almost 400-member team that services some 20 million square feet of building space daily with clients across the Southeast. He has received many awards in the cleaning service circle and as and as a minority business owner. His community service has included boards and committees at the local, state, and regional levels. He was awarded C-N’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2010.

LIB JULIAN

Class of 1958

An aggressive team leader for Eagle basketball, Lib Julian also played as a catcher for Coach Frosty Holt’s baseball team. The two-sport phenom was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and enjoyed a seven-year professional career. He served his country in the U.S. Army and later became a school principal. He then began what would become a 27-year career with Waffle House, from which he retired as senior executive vice president for Operations. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Norcross, Georgia. Julian was honored posthumously.