1999 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | KERMIT TIPTON
Milligan College is proud to induct Kermit Tipton into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Not only was he a phenomenal athlete before, during, and after his Milligan College years, but he is also a coaching legend in the Johnson City area.
Tipton graduated from Science Hill High School where he played football and baseball. As the Hilltoppers' quarterback, he helped bring the team to 20 victories, one loss and one tie during his junior and senior years. After his senior year, he was selected to the All-East Tennessee Team and was named Science Hill's Quarterback of the Decade for 1930 to 1940.
Following high school graduation, Tipton enrolled at Milligan College to play football and baseball. He entered the Army after his first year of college and served in World War II. After he was discharged, Tipton returned to Milligan where he was an outstanding baseball player for three years. He also played baseball in the semi-pro leagues in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Tipton graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949, and then entered the University of Mississippi where he received his master's degree in 1952.
Tipton's coaching career began in 1949 at Lamar High School where he coached football, basketball, and baseball and taught health and physical education, science and biology. In his four years at Lamar, Tipton's boys' basketball team won the Washington County Championship, his girls' basketball team won the district championship, and he was selected Washington County Baseball coach of the year.
From 1953 to 1956, Tipton taught and coached at North Junior High School in Johnson City. In 1956, he returned to Science Hill as assistant principal and head football coach and stayed for 11 years. His conference record while at Science Hill was 36 wins, 18 losses and five ties and his overall record was 73 wins, 33 losses and 5 ties. Tipton's winning percentage of .657 was the highest in the school's history when he retired. While at Science Hill, he was chosen Conference Coach of the Year three times. His team won three conference championships, one bowl game, and they never had a losing season.
Tipton coached three high school All-American quarterbacks at Science Hill: Steve Spurrier, John Rippetoe and Tom Scholes. Also, numerous players under his guidance won All-Conference, All-Regional and All-State honors.
From 1967 to 1973, Tipton served as principal at South Junior High School and principal of Independence Hall Junior High School from 1973 to 1981. In the spring of 1981, Tipton retired after 31 years of teaching and coaching on the secondary level.
Kermit and his wife, Ann, currently live in Johnson City. They have two children: Jonathan who lives in Johnson City, and Amy who lives in Gastonia, N.C.
Kermit Tipton is truly a remarkable figure as both an athlete and a coach. Milligan is honored to place his name in the Athletics Hall of Fame.