Dr. Robert H. Kirk was appointed as associate professor in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in fall 1967, becoming UT’s first full-time African American faculty member on campus. He received the bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and earned four graduate degrees, including a DHS (doctor of health and safety), from Indiana University. He did postgraduate work at Michigan State and Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Kirk, hired to establish a safety program, instituted the movement to combine the health and safety programs of the institution and to develop a comprehensive public health program.
In 1978 Kirk was given an honor award by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, recognizing his wide spectrum of activities in and on behalf of the association. In November 1992 Kirk became the first African American professional and the first Tennessean inducted into the Safety and Health Hall of Fame. In 1993 he was one of three recipients of the Honor Award from the Southern Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance. Kirk served both as vice president and president of the National Safety Council.