Albert Watt Hobt was the third child and only son of Albert Hobt and Mary Catherine "Min" Watt Hobt. He had two sisters, Lena and Florence. He played football at Wellston High School, in Jackson Co., Ohio. From there he went on the play varsity football as a halfback, at Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio (1913/14, 1914/15, and 1915/16). His football nickname was "Buckeye." He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, the Sphinx Society, the Bucket and Dipper, and Varsity O.
At the time of his marriage, 26 January, 1918, to Nell Bridges Mullineaux of Toledo, Ohio, he was the Director of Athletics at Wittenberg College, in Springfield, Ohio (1917-19). From 1919-21 he served as Assistant Professor of Hygiene at Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio.
His obituary from the Knoxville paper states, "Professor Hobt came to UT in 1921 as assistant professor of the physical education and became head of the department in 1930. He retired in 1961. When he first arrived at the university, he coached track and football. He received the Southern District, American Health, Physical Education and Recreation Association Honor Award in 1955 and was president of the Tennessee State College Physical Education Association in 1950-51."
In the 1924 Knoxville City Directory, he is listed as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. His dissertation thesis was, "The Teaching of Games in Elementary School, 1924." Over his years at UT, he published many different articles, some of which are available at the University Library, and he taught most of the coaches at the local high schools. They reported to his grandchildren that Watt Hobt could tap dance. At the time of his death he was collecting sports related poems for a compliation, which are included in his papers donated to UT. He retired as head of the Physical Education Department at UT.
Watt Hobt was included in the books, "Leaders in Education," by James McKeen Cattell, and "Who's Who in Tennessee" in 1961. In "Who's Who in Tennessee,'" the facts of his career differ slightly; "Assistant Professor of Physical Education 1921-24, Associate Professor 1924-1940, Serving as Department Head from 1924, he has been Professor since 1940. He is Independent in his politics and his religion affiliation is Methodist."
In the US Federal Census records he appears in:
- 1900 for Wellston, Jackson Co.., Ohio with his parents and two siblings
- 1910 for Wellston, Jackson Co., Ohio with his parents, maternal grandmother, and two siblings, listed as student
- 1920 for Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio with his spouse, Nelle Mullineux Hobt, and young son, occupation listed as cook for the Toledo University
- 1930 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse and son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
- 1940 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse, his father-in-law, and his son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
He belonged to the First Methodist Church in Knoxville. While others called him, Watt Hobt, we called him Pop.
As a much loved grandfather, he specialized in long walk around the blocks near his home at 1605 Laurel Avenue and 16th. St., trips out for ice cream cones at a nearby shop, and hanging out with me in his office at what was then called the Old Alumni Gym, where we played basketball. As older grandchild, he is remembered for leisure Sunday lunches at the Faculty Club, and evenings out to the University Theater performances at the Carosuel Theater. I remember being told that he had a glass eye, but as a child I thought it was a joke and never believed it. Later, I discovered that according to his WWI draft registration, he is listed as sight impaired, so it was the truth. His only grandson remembers him buying rubber-band propeller planes, which we shot off in the yard of the apartment house where he lived. Sounds pretty dangerous for a man with one eye.
- compiled by Gaynelle Hobt Morton
- revised Sept 2016
- revised May 2019
At the time of his marriage, 26 January, 1918, to Nell Bridges Mullineaux of Toledo, Ohio, he was the Director of Athletics at Wittenberg College, in Springfield, Ohio (1917-19). From 1919-21 he served as Assistant Professor of Hygiene at Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio.
His obituary from the Knoxville paper states, "Professor Hobt came to UT in 1921 as assistant professor of the physical education and became head of the department in 1930. He retired in 1961. When he first arrived at the university, he coached track and football. He received the Southern District, American Health, Physical Education and Recreation Association Honor Award in 1955 and was president of the Tennessee State College Physical Education Association in 1950-51."
In the 1924 Knoxville City Directory, he is listed as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. His dissertation thesis was, "The Teaching of Games in Elementary School, 1924." Over his years at UT, he published many different articles, some of which are available at the University Library, and he taught most of the coaches at the local high schools. They reported to his grandchildren that Watt Hobt could tap dance. At the time of his death he was collecting sports related poems for a compliation, which are included in his papers donated to UT. He retired as head of the Physical Education Department at UT.
Watt Hobt was included in the books, "Leaders in Education," by James McKeen Cattell, and "Who's Who in Tennessee" in 1961. In "Who's Who in Tennessee,'" the facts of his career differ slightly; "Assistant Professor of Physical Education 1921-24, Associate Professor 1924-1940, Serving as Department Head from 1924, he has been Professor since 1940. He is Independent in his politics and his religion affiliation is Methodist."
In the US Federal Census records he appears in:
- 1900 for Wellston, Jackson Co.., Ohio with his parents and two siblings
- 1910 for Wellston, Jackson Co., Ohio with his parents, maternal grandmother, and two siblings, listed as student
- 1920 for Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio with his spouse, Nelle Mullineux Hobt, and young son, occupation listed as cook for the Toledo University
- 1930 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse and son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
- 1940 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse, his father-in-law, and his son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
He belonged to the First Methodist Church in Knoxville. While others called him, Watt Hobt, we called him Pop.
As a much loved grandfather, he specialized in long walk around the blocks near his home at 1605 Laurel Avenue and 16th. St., trips out for ice cream cones at a nearby shop, and hanging out with me in his office at what was then called the Old Alumni Gym, where we played basketball. As older grandchild, he is remembered for leisure Sunday lunches at the Faculty Club, and evenings out to the University Theater performances at the Carosuel Theater. I remember being told that he had a glass eye, but as a child I thought it was a joke and never believed it. Later, I discovered that according to his WWI draft registration, he is listed as sight impaired, so it was the truth. His only grandson remembers him buying rubber-band propeller planes, which we shot off in the yard of the apartment house where he lived. Sounds pretty dangerous for a man with one eye.
- compiled by Gaynelle Hobt Morton
- revised Sept 2016
- revised May 2019
Albert Watt Hobt was the third child and only son of Albert Hobt and Mary Catherine "Min" Watt Hobt. He had two sisters, Lena and Florence. He played football at Wellston High School, in Jackson Co., Ohio. From there he went on the play varsity football as a halfback, at Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio (1913/14, 1914/15, and 1915/16). His football nickname was "Buckeye." He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, the Sphinx Society, the Bucket and Dipper, and Varsity O.
At the time of his marriage, 26 January, 1918, to Nell Bridges Mullineaux of Toledo, Ohio, he was the Director of Athletics at Wittenberg College, in Springfield, Ohio (1917-19). From 1919-21 he served as Assistant Professor of Hygiene at Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio.
His obituary from the Knoxville paper states, "Professor Hobt came to UT in 1921 as assistant professor of the physical education and became head of the department in 1930. He retired in 1961. When he first arrived at the university, he coached track and football. He received the Southern District, American Health, Physical Education and Recreation Association Honor Award in 1955 and was president of the Tennessee State College Physical Education Association in 1950-51."
In the 1924 Knoxville City Directory, he is listed as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. His dissertation thesis was, "The Teaching of Games in Elementary School, 1924." Over his years at UT, he published many different articles, some of which are available at the University Library, and he taught most of the coaches at the local high schools. They reported to his grandchildren that Watt Hobt could tap dance. At the time of his death he was collecting sports related poems for a compliation, which are included in his papers donated to UT. He retired as head of the Physical Education Department at UT.
Watt Hobt was included in the books, "Leaders in Education," by James McKeen Cattell, and "Who's Who in Tennessee" in 1961. In "Who's Who in Tennessee,'" the facts of his career differ slightly; "Assistant Professor of Physical Education 1921-24, Associate Professor 1924-1940, Serving as Department Head from 1924, he has been Professor since 1940. He is Independent in his politics and his religion affiliation is Methodist."
In the US Federal Census records he appears in:
- 1900 for Wellston, Jackson Co.., Ohio with his parents and two siblings
- 1910 for Wellston, Jackson Co., Ohio with his parents, maternal grandmother, and two siblings, listed as student
- 1920 for Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio with his spouse, Nelle Mullineux Hobt, and young son, occupation listed as cook for the Toledo University
- 1930 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse and son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
- 1940 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse, his father-in-law, and his son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
He belonged to the First Methodist Church in Knoxville. While others called him, Watt Hobt, we called him Pop.
As a much loved grandfather, he specialized in long walk around the blocks near his home at 1605 Laurel Avenue and 16th. St., trips out for ice cream cones at a nearby shop, and hanging out with me in his office at what was then called the Old Alumni Gym, where we played basketball. As older grandchild, he is remembered for leisure Sunday lunches at the Faculty Club, and evenings out to the University Theater performances at the Carosuel Theater. I remember being told that he had a glass eye, but as a child I thought it was a joke and never believed it. Later, I discovered that according to his WWI draft registration, he is listed as sight impaired, so it was the truth. His only grandson remembers him buying rubber-band propeller planes, which we shot off in the yard of the apartment house where he lived. Sounds pretty dangerous for a man with one eye.
- compiled by Gaynelle Hobt Morton
- revised Sept 2016
- revised May 2019
At the time of his marriage, 26 January, 1918, to Nell Bridges Mullineaux of Toledo, Ohio, he was the Director of Athletics at Wittenberg College, in Springfield, Ohio (1917-19). From 1919-21 he served as Assistant Professor of Hygiene at Toledo University, Toledo, Ohio.
His obituary from the Knoxville paper states, "Professor Hobt came to UT in 1921 as assistant professor of the physical education and became head of the department in 1930. He retired in 1961. When he first arrived at the university, he coached track and football. He received the Southern District, American Health, Physical Education and Recreation Association Honor Award in 1955 and was president of the Tennessee State College Physical Education Association in 1950-51."
In the 1924 Knoxville City Directory, he is listed as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. His dissertation thesis was, "The Teaching of Games in Elementary School, 1924." Over his years at UT, he published many different articles, some of which are available at the University Library, and he taught most of the coaches at the local high schools. They reported to his grandchildren that Watt Hobt could tap dance. At the time of his death he was collecting sports related poems for a compliation, which are included in his papers donated to UT. He retired as head of the Physical Education Department at UT.
Watt Hobt was included in the books, "Leaders in Education," by James McKeen Cattell, and "Who's Who in Tennessee" in 1961. In "Who's Who in Tennessee,'" the facts of his career differ slightly; "Assistant Professor of Physical Education 1921-24, Associate Professor 1924-1940, Serving as Department Head from 1924, he has been Professor since 1940. He is Independent in his politics and his religion affiliation is Methodist."
In the US Federal Census records he appears in:
- 1900 for Wellston, Jackson Co.., Ohio with his parents and two siblings
- 1910 for Wellston, Jackson Co., Ohio with his parents, maternal grandmother, and two siblings, listed as student
- 1920 for Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio with his spouse, Nelle Mullineux Hobt, and young son, occupation listed as cook for the Toledo University
- 1930 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse and son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
- 1940 for Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn with his spouse, his father-in-law, and his son, occupation professor of physical education for University of Tennessee
He belonged to the First Methodist Church in Knoxville. While others called him, Watt Hobt, we called him Pop.
As a much loved grandfather, he specialized in long walk around the blocks near his home at 1605 Laurel Avenue and 16th. St., trips out for ice cream cones at a nearby shop, and hanging out with me in his office at what was then called the Old Alumni Gym, where we played basketball. As older grandchild, he is remembered for leisure Sunday lunches at the Faculty Club, and evenings out to the University Theater performances at the Carosuel Theater. I remember being told that he had a glass eye, but as a child I thought it was a joke and never believed it. Later, I discovered that according to his WWI draft registration, he is listed as sight impaired, so it was the truth. His only grandson remembers him buying rubber-band propeller planes, which we shot off in the yard of the apartment house where he lived. Sounds pretty dangerous for a man with one eye.
- compiled by Gaynelle Hobt Morton
- revised Sept 2016
- revised May 2019
