Nicknamed Deanie by fellow workers because his surname was the same as that of the dean of the university (James D. Hoskins), John Hoskins was the groundskeeper for Shields-Watkins field from 1926 until 1961. In what became an annual custom, Coach Neyland would ask the groundskeeper whether the field would be ready for September. Hoskins invariably replied, “My field will be ready. What about your team?” Upon his death and that of his wife, Effie Lee, he left his entire estate, $23,958.49, to the UT Athletics Department.