University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
LETTERMEN’S T-CLUB HONORS BASS and SOSS
November 02, 2018 | Football, General
Burnley to receive Club’s service award
The University Tennessee Lettermen's T-Club is officially honoring three distinguished members of the Volunteer family during its annual Lettermen's dinner Friday night Nov. 2 at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. A special on-field ceremony will take place at Saturday's football game between Tennessee and Charlotte on Nov. 3.
The T-Club is granting Honorary Membership status to Paul Bass and Jason Soss. Honorary membership to the T-Club may be bestowed on an individual for outstanding achievement reflecting favorably on the University of Tennessee and specifically its men's and/or women's athletic programs. Nominees shall not have been a letterman in any sport at the University of Tennessee and shall not have been previously awarded this distinction. The award is considered the Club's highest honor.
In addition, the T-Club honored Danny Burnley with the 2018 service award. The T-club annually honors members whose service to the University, the Athletics Department and the community has highly distinguished themselves.
Paul Bass - Dr. Paul Bass, a longtime resident of Tullahoma, Tenn., has been an active participant in the University of Tennessee building program for Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena. After graduating from UT-Knoxville and later UT Dental School in Memphis, Dr. Bass joined the Tennessee Athletic Endowment Club Program. In addition, he actively recruited others to become members as well. In 1978, Dr. Bass organized others from the Tullahoma area to purchase a block of 54 seats in the soon to be expanded north end zone. Again, when the decision was made to build Thompson-Boling Arena, Dr. Bass stepped forward and joined the Arena Club. Dr. Bass served as president of the Big Orange Club of Coffee County for three years. A strong supporter of athletics for over 59 years, Dr. Bass married his wife Lyn, who was a Vol cheerleader, in 1971. His oldest daughter, Claire was also a Vol cheerleader from 1995-98.
Jason Soss - Jason Soss, an active member of the Tennessee Fund, continues to provide financial opportunities to athletics in hopes to further the future of student-athletes on and off the playing field. Jason's passion for the Vols started young, growing up next door former Vol quarterback Art Galiffa, who played in 1966. Art was a role model who inspired Jason to attend UT games since he can remember walking. Jason has held more than 10 season football tickets for over 30 years and regularly attends games with his wife, Brook and two sons Ari and Harlan. Jason, who was raised in Knoxville, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Following the acquisition of Travel Holdings by Cinven/CPPIB private equity funds, Jason has recently moved to Chattanooga to raise his family after being based in the Atlanta office for 17 years.
Danny Burnley - Burnley, a native of Gallatin, Tenn, graduated from Gallatin High School in the Spring of 1974. He entered the University of Tennessee as a freshman that fall and immediately joined the ranks of the student managers for the Vols football team under the supervision of longtime Assistant Coach George Cafego. In 1980, he was elevated to Head Manager for Coach Johnny Majors' squad. After graduation from UT in 1983, Danny took a part-time position in the UT Athletic Ticket Office. In 1985, he was hired full time and has remained a fixture ever since. In his position as Assistant Ticket Manager, Danny has worked the football player pass gate since 1985 and travels as part of the football support staff to all road games. Danny has not missed a home Tennessee football game since 1973. He joins his former boss Gus Manning every Monday night for cards as part of a longstanding game of "Tong."
The T-Club is granting Honorary Membership status to Paul Bass and Jason Soss. Honorary membership to the T-Club may be bestowed on an individual for outstanding achievement reflecting favorably on the University of Tennessee and specifically its men's and/or women's athletic programs. Nominees shall not have been a letterman in any sport at the University of Tennessee and shall not have been previously awarded this distinction. The award is considered the Club's highest honor.
In addition, the T-Club honored Danny Burnley with the 2018 service award. The T-club annually honors members whose service to the University, the Athletics Department and the community has highly distinguished themselves.
Paul Bass - Dr. Paul Bass, a longtime resident of Tullahoma, Tenn., has been an active participant in the University of Tennessee building program for Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena. After graduating from UT-Knoxville and later UT Dental School in Memphis, Dr. Bass joined the Tennessee Athletic Endowment Club Program. In addition, he actively recruited others to become members as well. In 1978, Dr. Bass organized others from the Tullahoma area to purchase a block of 54 seats in the soon to be expanded north end zone. Again, when the decision was made to build Thompson-Boling Arena, Dr. Bass stepped forward and joined the Arena Club. Dr. Bass served as president of the Big Orange Club of Coffee County for three years. A strong supporter of athletics for over 59 years, Dr. Bass married his wife Lyn, who was a Vol cheerleader, in 1971. His oldest daughter, Claire was also a Vol cheerleader from 1995-98.
Jason Soss - Jason Soss, an active member of the Tennessee Fund, continues to provide financial opportunities to athletics in hopes to further the future of student-athletes on and off the playing field. Jason's passion for the Vols started young, growing up next door former Vol quarterback Art Galiffa, who played in 1966. Art was a role model who inspired Jason to attend UT games since he can remember walking. Jason has held more than 10 season football tickets for over 30 years and regularly attends games with his wife, Brook and two sons Ari and Harlan. Jason, who was raised in Knoxville, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Following the acquisition of Travel Holdings by Cinven/CPPIB private equity funds, Jason has recently moved to Chattanooga to raise his family after being based in the Atlanta office for 17 years.
Danny Burnley - Burnley, a native of Gallatin, Tenn, graduated from Gallatin High School in the Spring of 1974. He entered the University of Tennessee as a freshman that fall and immediately joined the ranks of the student managers for the Vols football team under the supervision of longtime Assistant Coach George Cafego. In 1980, he was elevated to Head Manager for Coach Johnny Majors' squad. After graduation from UT in 1983, Danny took a part-time position in the UT Athletic Ticket Office. In 1985, he was hired full time and has remained a fixture ever since. In his position as Assistant Ticket Manager, Danny has worked the football player pass gate since 1985 and travels as part of the football support staff to all road games. Danny has not missed a home Tennessee football game since 1973. He joins his former boss Gus Manning every Monday night for cards as part of a longstanding game of "Tong."
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