Craig V. Gabbert

Class of 1938 / Inducted 1978 / Men's Track & Field

During his time at Emory & Henry, Craig Gabbert, Sr. played football, basketball, and track. Gabbert, a 1938 graduate of the college, was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 for his remarkable accomplishments as a track & field athlete.

Gabbert was a standout in track who accumulated a total of 313 points in his overall career at E&H, the highest total in the college’s history. Gabbert excelled in the high jump, but was a versatile athlete who also played football and basketball.

After leaving Emory & Henry, Craig Gabbert, Sr. was a coach at Rhea Central High School in Dayton, Tennessee for a number of years, and also served as principal of the high school. He served on the Dayton City Council for from 1968-73, and at the time of his death on December 21, 1975, he was superintendent of Dayton City School system. The football field for Rhea Central High School was named “Gabbert Field” in his honor in 1942.