Dr. Earl Ramer joined the UT faculty in 1944 as an associate professor of education. In 1958 he became a faculty representative on UT’s Athletics Board. In 1961 he became chairman of that board. He was appointed the UT faculty representative to the NCAA, and in 1972 he became the first Tennessean to serve as president of the NCAA. He was also a member of the SEC Executive Committee from 1962 to 1965. Ramer served as interim chairman of the College Football Association in its early years. He was a faculty member for 34 years and was head of the Department of Continuing and Higher Education. At the UT-UCLA football game in the year of his retirement, the Pride of the Southland Band spelled out “RAMER” on the field at halftime, as he was honored by various officials and dignitaries. He was elected to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. His papers are in the Special Collections in the UT Libraries.