October 16, 2012

Kenneth Fults to be inducted into TTU Sports Hall of Fame Nov. 2

A four-year member of the Tennessee Tech football team, Kenneth Fults was part of the historic Golden Eagle squad that took home four consecutive Ohio Valley Conference titles under coach Wilburn Tucker. He'll be inducted Nov. 2 into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.

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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Some time during the night of the Hall of Fame inductions, before his name is called and he steps to the microphone to accept his honor, don’t be surprised to see Kenneth Fults filling water glasses or handing out extra rolls at the dinner in the Multipurpose Room.

Those who know Fults realize that serving others has been one of the signatures of his life.

While his contributions on the football field have harvested a bounty of success, his charitable works have been equally impressive. He is a member of several different organizations including the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

As a member of the Mt. View United Methodist Church, Fults helped build two houses while working for Habitat for Humanity. He is also a frequent volunteer in Sunday School.

Typical of such an unselfish man. Same can be said for his service to the country.

After his Tech career came to an end, Fults went on to serve as a member of the United States Marine Corps, based out of Camp LeJeune, N.C., for two years.

It was several years after he completed his football career that he returned to TTU to earn his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology in 1968.

And, so it is with his induction into the Hall of Fame -- he quietly follows a handfull of teammates into the group. Any description of Fults must include the term “humble” in addition to any accolades for his success as a Golden Eagle.

A four-year member of the Tennessee Tech football team, Fults was part of the historic Golden Eagle squad that took home four consecutive Ohio Valley Conference titles, from 1958-61, under coach Wilburn Tucker.

There has not been a stretch as successful in Golden Eagle football history.

As a junior, Fults finished second on the team in rushing with 374 yards, while scoring three touchdowns. One year later as a senior, Fults became Tech’s go-to rusher as he accounted for a team-high 663 rushing yards, while scoring a team-leading five touchdowns, en route to TTU’s fourth straight OVC title, the longest such streak in Tech’s history.

With Fults on the squad, Tech compiled a 28-11-2 overall record, including a gaudy 22-1-1 mark in OVC play. He also helped the 1960 team reach the Tangerine Bowl.

He earned all-OVC honors twice, and as a senior was chosen third-team All-America.

Prior to his time at Tennessee Tech, Fults served as a team captain for Grundy County High School in Coalmont, Tenn., where he earned all-conference honors and all-state honorable mentions in 1957.

He met his wife Sharon at Tech in 1961 and the couple was married in 1963. They have two children Gina and Kevin and three grandchildren. Currently, Ken and Sharon reside in Blountville, Tenn.

Fults is one of four people who will be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2, in the Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. The induction dinner is part of Homecoming festivities. Tickets for the dinner, or the Saturday afternoon game against Eastern Illinois, can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.