Before Bob Kesling stepped to the podium to serve as the guest speaker at the 40th Annual Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, Thursday, he paused to discuss what his speech would cover.
“I’m going to reflect about the fact that I’m retired, and what the heck I’m doing now, and stay out of trouble, and talk a little about some of my UT experiences and some of the things I learned, some of the things I enjoyed – and talk about the inductees – just how special this is.” Kesling said. “I don’t know where I would be without athletics … it taught me so many lessons – good and bad – it taught me about discipline, it taught me about enjoying success, but understanding how to learn defeat, because you are not going to win every one of your games.”
Kesling was the play-by-play voice for University of Tennessee football and basketball on the 70 plus stations on the Vol Network for 26 years before announcing his retirement following the 2025 basketball season.
“I miss the games, but I don’t miss some of the travel … when you get older the travel gets tougher, when you are young, it’s exciting. First time you have ever been some place … Rupp Arena, first time, or going to Allen Fieldhouse for the first time, going to Notre Dame Stadium.
“One thing I miss the most is being around the players, but I enjoy being around my grandchildren – that’s the best part.”
Members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame are Brett Barry, Kayla Beaver, Carita Cole, Davon DeMoss and Tarius Johnson.
Terry Smith was the recipient of the 2026 Billy Schrivner Distinguished Service Award.
Brett Barry, a four-sport letterman at Jackson Christian School – golf, basketball, baseball, track – excelled in golf while a student at Union University.
A member of the Union University Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2021 – Barry was a three-time All-TranSouth Conference and two-time TranSouth Golfer of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
He and his teammates also captured three conference titles – 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Kayla Beaver, who played softball at South Side High School, enjoyed a four-year career at University of Central Arkansas where she compiled a record of 74-22 which included a school record 1.96 earned run average.
As a graduate student at the University of Alabama, she earned All-Conference and NFCA All-American honors after appearing in 40 games with 30 starts.
At Alabama, where she helped lead the Crimson Tide to its 15th appearance in the 2024 Women’s College World Series, she owns a 1.68 earned run average with a 19-10 record and 185 strikeouts over 200 innings.
Carita Cole starred in track and field at Jackson Central-Merry and North Side. At JCM, 2001 she won the 100m and 200m Class 3A regional championship.
At North Side, she became the first track & field athlete to reach the State Championships in 20 years, where she places third in the 200m dash and fourth in the 100m dash.
She ran collegiately at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before transferring to Western Kentucky University on a full track & field scholarship.
Davon DeMoss went from walk-on to a scholarship athlete in track & field at the University of Memphis.
He holds school records in the 60m dash (6.61); 100m dash (10.05); 200m dash (21.0); 4 x 100m relay (39.1) and 4 x 400m relay (3.07).
A three-time NCAA Division I All-American, he was a qualifier for the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 100 m dash.
A police officer, he has been named the ‘World’s Fastest Cop,’ a title he earned while participating in the World Police and Fire game in 2023.
He graduated from Madison Academic High School, where the school record in Track & Field in the 100m with a 10.8.
Tarius Johnson is a 2010 graduate of Liberty High School, where he played for the 2006 and 2007 Class 3A state champion Crusaders.
During his career he earned all-District and all-Region honors. Johnson scored 1,733 career points.
He continued his career at Three Rivers Community College averaging a double-double – 17.9 points per game and 10.9 rebounds per game – his freshman year.
At Eastern Kentucky University the Colonels won the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference title and he was selected to the all-Tournament team.
Terry Smith was selected to receive the Billy Schrivner Distinguished Award due to his legacy of service, leadership, and mentorship.
From the early 1980s through the 1990s, Smith coordinated recreational leagues, refereed basketball games, and poured countless hours into creating positive environments where athletes of all ages could play, grow, and thrive.
(PHOTO: Top left – Brett Barry, Kayla Beaver and Carita Cole. Bottom – Davon DeMoss and Tarius Johnson)
