Murphy Fair wins TSSAA honor

Readyville resident Murphy Fair has been honored by the TSSAA as a distinguished service honoree.

A Walla Walla, Washington native, Fair is known as the "Guru" of high school football.

Attending high schools in four different states, Fair began his sportswriting career in high school in Arizona reporting for the Navajo Times, the Gallup Independent and the Phoenix Republic.

While attending college at UT Martin in Union City, he worked as a photographer and sports reporter for the Union City Daily Messenger.

After graduation, Fair was a reporter and photographer for The Dispatch newspaper in Cookeville and became editor of the Carthage Courier in Carthage.

While living in Carthage, he served on the city council and was an officer on the industrial board, planning board and the Lions Club. His involvement in Carthage sports including being a baseball coach, softball coach, golf pro and broadcasting high school football and basketball on the radio.

In 1988, Murphy began publishing his Tennessee High School Football book. The preseason publication is known by many as the football "Bible" for "must have" information. His web site, Murphyfair.com, covers football facts not found anywhere else. His radio show is heard locally on WBRY AM and FM.

He is instrumental in coordinating the Tennessee East/West Football Classic each fall. For the past several years, Fair was worked as a sideline reporter for the BlueCross Bowl, state football championship, TV broadcast.

Other Distinguished Service honorees included:

Gina Pickens, athletic director of Memphis Central.

Diana Chalfant, collegiate volleyball referee.

Coach Beverly Shoulders, Macon County.

Rob Cummings, Norris Middle School.