University of Tennessee Athletics
Barksdale Honored For Gift at UT Tennis Center
March 07, 2000 | Men's Tennis
The University and Barksdale (UT '49 and UT-Memphis '52) jointly unveiled the Dr. Robert Barksdale Men's Indoor Tennis Dressing Facility in the Goodfriend Tennis Center in ceremonies Tuesday, March 7, on campus.
"It is an honor. I appreciate it and I wish I could do more," Barksdale said, after unveiling the plaque honoring his contribution to the Vol program. "I'm glad to see the University get an indoor tennis complex and it looks like the best one in the country from all I've seen."
Barksdale, a retired Jacksonville, Fla., dentist, made a $500,000 gift to the Vol tennis program as part of a $1.5 million gift to the University of Tennessee. The other components of his gift were $500,000 to the Institute of Agriculture for fresh water fish research with emphasis on trout and quail and $500,000 for scholarships for students from Warren County to attend UT. He had ties to Tennessee and Warren County through his mother, the late Willie Crain Barksdale of McMinnville. He played on the Vol tennis team in 1949. When he retired in 1993, Barksdale sold his dental practice to former Vol quarterback Randy Wallace (1974-76).
"You've been a wonderful and interested friend in what goes on here in our tennis program and have been interested in the University of Tennessee in many ways," Athletic Director Doug Dickey said as he introduced Barksdale. "You're the epitome of our alumni who go out and do something and share their success with us in some way. Without people like you, we don't get it done. We met yesterday to start a new campaign for about six to eight facilities we need funds for and you have helped us with this one."
