THOMAS HENSLEY, FORMER NFL OFFICIAL, DIES AT 62: October 31, 1994
Thomas B. "Tommy" Hensley, a Knoxville businessman and National Football League official for more than 20 years, died Sunday morning after a battle of several months with cancer. He was 62.
Mr. Hensley was a lineman at Central High School, where he graduated in 1950. After graduation, he went to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship but returned to Knoxville to play tackle on the University of Tennessee football teams in 1952 and 1953. He graduated with a degree in marketing.
Although he owned and operated a service station in Fountain City for 15!years and was a national-accounts director for a trucking firm for five, he(was known for his association with football. And it was one he thoroughly enjoyed.
Mr. Hensley officiated high school football 15 years and SoutheasternConference football for five. His first game as an NFL official was as a linesman at New Orleans in 1966. His final 15 years of NFL officiating was as an umpire, including the 1985 Super Bowl at Stanford Stadium.
He was recognized for his officiating by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame by being presented the organization's Amateur Award.
Sometimes his large, muscular frame was a positive force in hisofficiating. Once he backed down a huge lineman who was upset at another!official. In a game against Pittsburgh, he was bowled over from behind by a Steeler defender. He dusted himself off and continued to officiate.
Mr. Hensley and his wife, the former Johnnie Belle Cook, in 1976 developed Fountain Village - a group of businesses where his service station once stood.
He also served as business manager/administrative aide at McGhee Tyson Airport and was a member of the board of Fountain City Park. He was a charter member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gentry-Griffey Chapel.
Thomas B. "Tommy" Hensley, a Knoxville businessman and National Football League official for more than 20 years, died Sunday morning after a battle of several months with cancer. He was 62.
Mr. Hensley was a lineman at Central High School, where he graduated in 1950. After graduation, he went to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship but returned to Knoxville to play tackle on the University of Tennessee football teams in 1952 and 1953. He graduated with a degree in marketing.
Although he owned and operated a service station in Fountain City for 15!years and was a national-accounts director for a trucking firm for five, he(was known for his association with football. And it was one he thoroughly enjoyed.
Mr. Hensley officiated high school football 15 years and SoutheasternConference football for five. His first game as an NFL official was as a linesman at New Orleans in 1966. His final 15 years of NFL officiating was as an umpire, including the 1985 Super Bowl at Stanford Stadium.
He was recognized for his officiating by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame by being presented the organization's Amateur Award.
Sometimes his large, muscular frame was a positive force in hisofficiating. Once he backed down a huge lineman who was upset at another!official. In a game against Pittsburgh, he was bowled over from behind by a Steeler defender. He dusted himself off and continued to officiate.
Mr. Hensley and his wife, the former Johnnie Belle Cook, in 1976 developed Fountain Village - a group of businesses where his service station once stood.
He also served as business manager/administrative aide at McGhee Tyson Airport and was a member of the board of Fountain City Park. He was a charter member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gentry-Griffey Chapel.
THOMAS HENSLEY, FORMER NFL OFFICIAL, DIES AT 62: October 31, 1994
Thomas B. "Tommy" Hensley, a Knoxville businessman and National Football League official for more than 20 years, died Sunday morning after a battle of several months with cancer. He was 62.
Mr. Hensley was a lineman at Central High School, where he graduated in 1950. After graduation, he went to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship but returned to Knoxville to play tackle on the University of Tennessee football teams in 1952 and 1953. He graduated with a degree in marketing.
Although he owned and operated a service station in Fountain City for 15!years and was a national-accounts director for a trucking firm for five, he(was known for his association with football. And it was one he thoroughly enjoyed.
Mr. Hensley officiated high school football 15 years and SoutheasternConference football for five. His first game as an NFL official was as a linesman at New Orleans in 1966. His final 15 years of NFL officiating was as an umpire, including the 1985 Super Bowl at Stanford Stadium.
He was recognized for his officiating by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame by being presented the organization's Amateur Award.
Sometimes his large, muscular frame was a positive force in hisofficiating. Once he backed down a huge lineman who was upset at another!official. In a game against Pittsburgh, he was bowled over from behind by a Steeler defender. He dusted himself off and continued to officiate.
Mr. Hensley and his wife, the former Johnnie Belle Cook, in 1976 developed Fountain Village - a group of businesses where his service station once stood.
He also served as business manager/administrative aide at McGhee Tyson Airport and was a member of the board of Fountain City Park. He was a charter member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gentry-Griffey Chapel.
Thomas B. "Tommy" Hensley, a Knoxville businessman and National Football League official for more than 20 years, died Sunday morning after a battle of several months with cancer. He was 62.
Mr. Hensley was a lineman at Central High School, where he graduated in 1950. After graduation, he went to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship but returned to Knoxville to play tackle on the University of Tennessee football teams in 1952 and 1953. He graduated with a degree in marketing.
Although he owned and operated a service station in Fountain City for 15!years and was a national-accounts director for a trucking firm for five, he(was known for his association with football. And it was one he thoroughly enjoyed.
Mr. Hensley officiated high school football 15 years and SoutheasternConference football for five. His first game as an NFL official was as a linesman at New Orleans in 1966. His final 15 years of NFL officiating was as an umpire, including the 1985 Super Bowl at Stanford Stadium.
He was recognized for his officiating by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame by being presented the organization's Amateur Award.
Sometimes his large, muscular frame was a positive force in hisofficiating. Once he backed down a huge lineman who was upset at another!official. In a game against Pittsburgh, he was bowled over from behind by a Steeler defender. He dusted himself off and continued to officiate.
Mr. Hensley and his wife, the former Johnnie Belle Cook, in 1976 developed Fountain Village - a group of businesses where his service station once stood.
He also served as business manager/administrative aide at McGhee Tyson Airport and was a member of the board of Fountain City Park. He was a charter member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gentry-Griffey Chapel.
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