Memphis Athletics Administrator Bob Winn Honored for 45 Years of Service

If you walked into a bookstore looking for a book on Memphis Tiger Athletics, you'd no doubt be pointed in the direction of a heavy tome filled to the brim with legend and lore.

Invariably, each student-athlete, coach and administrator who spends time in The Bluff City contributes a piece of this story. But you might see one person, potentially more than any other Tiger, interwoven throughout countless pages and chapters.

That would be longtime administrator Bob Winn, who is being honored for 45 years of service at Saturday's home football game against SMU.

After a career in media relations and sports information, Winn has mastered the art of telling the stories of Memphis Athletics and the people involved. His job, which was so much more than 'just a job,' was to spread the word of what made each Tiger unique. What made them tick. What their upbringing was, obstacles they've overcome and goals they have for the future.

But to tell Winn's story?

Who better than the people whose lives he's touched and continues to impact.

Geoff Calkins, longtime Memphis columnist currently with the Daily Memphian
"When I think of the University of Memphis football program, I think of Bob Winn. Coaches and players are the foundation, of course, but they tend to come and go. Bob was a part of the place, as much as the thick of humidity of August practices, the sound of pads thudding against each other, the Liberty Bowl itself. He was always there. Always loyal. Always willing to explain the history of the program, and what makes it special."

Bo Carter, National Football Foundation Correspondent and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Executive Director
"Congratulations to Bob Winn on many, many years of service to the Memphis Tigers. I think he even outdid the famous 'Rapid' Robert (Bob) Hartley in service there, and he got to work with one of Hart's dearest friends in Coach and Athletic Director Billy Jack Murphy. Bob experienced many memorable times and coaches at Memphis, great days at the Danny Thomas Memphis Golf Classic, some amazing times in basketball and even a fun stint at Tiger golf coach. Also, we both survived Jack Bugbee throwing that old ditto machine out of the copy room one night after a legendary Memphis-Mississippi State football tussle. One of Bob's real admirers and favorite folks was the late, great Russ Anderson, and we shared many great Bob Winn and C-USA moments before his untimely passing last spring. Russ' nose led him directly to Rendezvous and Corky's every time he entered Memphis, and he always appreciated your kind assistance – especially at the Liberty Bowl. Hopefully we have a mild winter and Bob is able to tee it up two or three times a week, because he deserves a long break after many years of great work and memorable years at Memphis. I wish I had been at Mississippi State a few more years to get to enjoy your courtesy and company, and we have loved the times he came to Dallas – steaks are on the grill when he is back in town. Best wishes and thanks for a great career."

Lamar Chance, former Memphis Sports Information Director
"I appreciate Bob giving me the opportunity to come work for Memphis Athletics. Bob put together an impressive staff that performed at a high level, produced outstanding work and had fun while doing it, and I am honored to have played a small role. I enjoyed every minute being a member of Bob's athletics media relations family."

Don Coffey, Memphis M Club Board Member (football)
"Coach Billy J. Murphy is smiling down with gratitude for the positive impact Bob's excellent work has had on the school he loved."

Tammy DeGroff, former Memphis Sports Information Director
"My time working with Bob, whether for the UofM or at the FedEx/St. Jude golf tournament, I saw that he greeted everyone and made them feel welcome. Now, it's probably called networking, but for Bob, it's just taking care of people. His move into the M Club was shortly followed by a boom in M Club memberships, not at all a coincidence to anyone who tried to have a quick lunch out somewhere in this city with him. Because Bob Winn is all about family. It is impossible to go anywhere in this city with him and not have someone walk up to him and he will say 'oh, they played baseball here in the 70s' or 'I know them through my Sunday School class at church' or some other way that shows you how much this University and this City have become a daily part of his life.

"As a graduate assistant, I came to Memphis absolutely sure that I was just going to be here for two years and then boomerang back to the Midwest to be closer to my family. What I didn't know was that I had just joined a family here -- the Tiger family. As our boss, Bob set the standard. He never asked us to do something he wouldn't also jump in to do. He helped us set name cards in the press box, label credentials for NCAA tournaments and staff thousands of Memphis home events. He stood out in the elements at a lot of football practices, served as the official scorer for a bunch of golf tournaments and taught us to take care of the student-athletes and coaches and the visiting SIDs and media to put our best foot forward for this community. Telling everyone the Tigers' stories was important, and no one knew more Tiger stories than Bob.

"That desire to take care of people extended to his staff as well. The day 'Hurricane Elvis' blew through Memphis also happened to be the Conference USA Media Day in downtown Memphis. The tree damage throughout Midtown made navigating that direction tough, especially for those of us fairly new to town, so Bob loaded us up, took us down some side streets and the wrong way up some one-way streets, and got us to Media Day. He knew Memphis that well. I mentioned on the ride down that a limb had busted off the tree in my front yard and the next morning, Bob was out there with a chainsaw cleaning it up. That's what we all learned from Bob. When you see someone needs something, just go get it done. It's not about credit, it's about just taking care of people. He's taken care of a number of folks in his Tiger family for over 45 years, and I know we are all happy to see him get a chance for more time with his wife, Susan, and grandkids. It may not be the same to not have Bob there to greet members of his Tiger family, but he's still watching games or listening to them on the radio, keeping track of more Tiger stories."

Nyrone Hawkins, Memphis M Club Hall of Famer (football)
"Bob Winn was a major part of my reengagement with Memphis Athletics. In 1990, after breaking my ankle, I left Memphis State and returned to Montgomery, Ala., before I came back to Memphis eight years later to work for Northwest Airlines. That summer while playing putt putt golf I saw Bob. However, I was really trying to not be seen by him. I figured I was long forgotten by every member of the athletic department.

"Nevertheless, Bob saw me and made a beeline to me. He said 'Nyrone Hawkins, from Montgomery, Alabama – agile, mobile and hostile!' I have been connected to the UofM ever since. Bob and I went into the M Club Hall of Fame in the same class.

"Thanks, Bob, for being Bob. Because of you, I am a Hall of Famer at the UofM."

Jane Klein, Memphis M Club Board Member (women's tennis)
"Bob Winn is the epitome of a true gentleman. His love and dedication to the University of Memphis is unparalleled. I am a better person for knowing Bob Winn and proud to call him my friend."

Bill Lofton, former Memphis Senior Associate Athletic Director/Finance
"Bob possessed an impeccable work ethic. And no matter how bad he felt, he always showed up for work. He was the first one through the door and one of the last ones to leave. He was very dedicated. Another thing that struck me is Bob's leadership style. It was by example. And his staff liked him."

Carolyn McDougal, Memphis M Club Hall of Famer (cheer)
"Bob Winn should be called 'Mr. Tiger.' He has done so much for the University, especially for the former student-athletes and the M Club. I am forever indebted to Bob for his work with the Old Tigers group. All former student-athletes are indebted to Bob for his dedication to Tiger Athletics. Bob will always be remembered as the one who has brought many student-athletes back to campus and has made them feel like a major part of the University of Memphis."

Ron Mears, former Memphis Sports Information Director
"Bob has been such an impactful and inspiring mentor to me. Beyond lessons learned about being your best as a communications professional, I have taken away so much about how to treat people from observing Bob's interactions and the relationships he built, especially with student-athletes and other we interacted with daily. He's such a good guy, and I'm so happy to see him recognized for his amazing service to the University of Memphis."

Mark Owens, Associate Athletic Director/Communications at Middle Tennessee
Former Memphis men's basketball Sports Information Director under Winn
"There's not a better Tiger than Bob and no one more deserving of this recognition. He bleeds blue, and the passion and love he has for the Tigers is second to none. He took a chance on me, and I will always be grateful. Some of my best memories come from my time at Memphis, and that is all because of Bob."

Lynn Parkes, former Memphis associate athletic director who came to Memphis in 1975 to start the school's women's golf program
"Bob was a wonderful colleague and friend when I was there. He was a walking history book of Tiger athletics. I appreciated his passion for the University and its student-athletes. He was, and always will be, a proud Memphis Tiger."

Brad Pope, Memphis Director of Digital Media
"When you work for Bob, you are family. He understands the long hours you have to put in when working in college athletics. He kept things fun while at the same time bringing out the very best in those he worked with. He looked after us at the office and away from work. I will always be in debt to him for the opportunities he helped give me. I will always cherish his friendship and mentorship. When the opportunity to return to Memphis came about, Bob was one of the first people that called me and said 'it's time to come home to your family.' Because to him, Memphis Athletics is a family. His passion and love for the University, its student-athletes and those he worked with will be forever be unrivaled."

Ryan Powell, Summit League Assistant Commissioner/Communications
Former Memphis Sports Information Graduate Assistant under Winn
"My two years as a graduate assistant SID at Memphis were certainly made better by the presence of Mr. Winn. He took the time to mentor me whether we were in the office or on the golf course, and I'm a better professional and person for being able to learn under him and be around his infectious smile. I don't want to give him too much credit, but my golf game might be better for some of the wisdom he provided in that regard too. His legacy should carry on throughout Tiger Athletics' lore forever. He's earned it."

Jennifer Rodrigues, Director of Brand Strategy at Alabama
Former Memphis Sports Information Director under Winn
"Bob IS Memphis Athletics. I am truly blessed to call him a friend, and really, he's more like family. He often joked that I was wife number two because of how much time we spent together – and let's be honest, the amount of nagging I did. I am grateful for all the knowledge I gained in sports information working alongside Bob, and for all the times he championed my cause and was an advocate for me to advance at Memphis. I would not have become as successful as I did at UofM if it had not been for the foundation I gained from him and the energy and positive reinforcement that he provided.

"He is so well respected by former players, coaches, administrators, co-workers, fans, media, and the list goes on. For Bob, it didn't matter if you had hundreds of dollars or millions of dollars – he treated everyone the same and with the utmost respect. I will always cherish my time working with Bob in sports information, and I owe him so much for supporting me in becoming the head SID and football contact at Memphis, particularly at a time when very few women held that position on the Division I level. If it had not been for Bob, I may have never made it to that level.

"The hardest thing I ever did was leave athletics at Memphis, and while it was for all the right reasons, leaving Bob and my other co-workers (family) was incredibly difficult. We had such a great office and somewhere, there is probably a notebook with 'Bob-isms,' which I still catch myself saying. I am so glad Memphis is honoring Bob for his contributions."

Denise Thompson, Associate Athletic Director/Communication and Creative Services at Delaware
Former Memphis Sports Information Post-Graduate Intern under Winn
"Working in the athletic media relations office at Memphis was like working with family. It was a unique, fun, and learning experience that I will never forget, and Bob Winn was an integral part of why I still share memories of my time there to this day."

Doug Vance, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Executive Director
"My congratulations to Bob for a great career in service to his athletics department. Bob spent his career demonstrating professionalism, integrity and passion for his job. His example impacted myself and countless others in the profession. Suffice it to say, he was one of the best in the country at doing the job of a sports information director. Beyond his commitment to his craft, he also exemplified passion for the school and student-athletes he served. I am so pleased that someone who shined the spotlight on so many is now having it pointed in his direction. He's earned it."

Brian Vanderheyden, Memphis M Club President (football)
"Bob Winn devoted his career to the University of Memphis and loved being an integral part of the athletic program for nearly 50 years. Bob's commitment to the University and his enthusiasm over the years, through all the highs and lows, was second to none. I was honored when he invited me to join the M Club board, and serving there with him has been the highlight of my post-graduation Tiger experience. He has been an amazing role model and inspiration to me as an M Club board member."

Laird Veatch, Memphis Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
"All of us in the athletic department thank Bob Winn for his 45 years of service and tremendous contributions to Memphis Athletics. He truly made an impact on this University, and perhaps even more important, he made an impact on the people he worked with over the years. You will not find anyone with anything other than praise and admiration for Bob, which is a true testament to him and his legacy."

Dave Woloshin, longtime "Voice of the Tigers"
"There has never been a more loyal Tiger then Bob. He felt joy for every win and angst for each loss, no matter the sport. There has never been a more protective figure of the school's legacy than Bob, which was perfect for his late-in-career positions with the M Club and Hall Of Fame. And there has never been a coach with a shorter tenure then Bob, when he was the golf coach!"

Memphis Athletics Administrator Bob Winn Honored for 45 Years of Service

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