University of Tennessee Athletics
Hendee Inducted into GKAISA Hall of Fame
August 04, 2010 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Aug. 4, 2010
Coleman Weibley
UTsports.com
The Greater Knoxville Area Interclub Swimming Association Championships, held recently at UT, had one surprise participant--Tennessee assistant coach Joe Hendee.
In addition to his duties as an assistant at UT, Hendee faithfully served GKAISA as a club coach and mentor of prodigious young swimmers for 20 years. Since Hendee took a leave of absence to battle cancer in June, he has been absent from the pool deck and his return to it did not go unnoticed.
During the middle of the GKAISA Championships, the competition halted momentarily for the league to announce its first inductees into the GKAISA Hall of Fame. Hendee made the list.
According to GKAISA president Shannon Hampson, the league wanted its first inductees to be people who have made outstanding contributions to the Knoxville swimming community throughout their lifetime.
Hendee, always humble, only remarked, "It was a good day," and, "I'll be back next year."
Joining Hendee as an inductee was 20-year GKAISA coach Anita Dinwiddie.
