University of Tennessee Athletics
Baseball VFL Ed Given Passes Away
March 26, 2026 | Baseball
Tennessee baseball VFL Ed Given passed away on Tuesday, March 24 at the age of 91.
Given was UT baseball's oldest living letterwinner prior to his passing, playing two seasons on the diamond for the Volunteers in 1953 and 1954.
Following his playing days at Tennessee, Given went on to work in sports media, starting his career working part-time at the Jackson Sun while also spending time at the Nashville Banner before becoming a longtime sports information director at Western Kentucky University and Middle Tennessee State University.
Given spent 16 years as an SID at MTSU and 16 years in the same role at WKU, earning induction in the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame in 1998 shortly after he retired. He was also selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Hall of Fame in 2015.
Given is survived by four sons: Kerry (Rhonda), Scott, Kyle (Melanie) and Paul (Prudence), and one daughter: Lisa Spillman (Michael), as well as 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, two nephews and a niece.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be directed to ProvidenceChristianAcademy.com.
Given was UT baseball's oldest living letterwinner prior to his passing, playing two seasons on the diamond for the Volunteers in 1953 and 1954.
Following his playing days at Tennessee, Given went on to work in sports media, starting his career working part-time at the Jackson Sun while also spending time at the Nashville Banner before becoming a longtime sports information director at Western Kentucky University and Middle Tennessee State University.
Given spent 16 years as an SID at MTSU and 16 years in the same role at WKU, earning induction in the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame in 1998 shortly after he retired. He was also selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Hall of Fame in 2015.
Given is survived by four sons: Kerry (Rhonda), Scott, Kyle (Melanie) and Paul (Prudence), and one daughter: Lisa Spillman (Michael), as well as 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, two nephews and a niece.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be directed to ProvidenceChristianAcademy.com.
BSB | Josh Elander Postgame Media vs. USC Upstate (3.24.26)
Tuesday, March 24
BSB | Blake Grimmer Postgame Media vs. USC Upstate (3.24.26)
Tuesday, March 24
BSB | Brayden Krenzel Postgame Media vs. USC Upstate (3.24.26)
Tuesday, March 24
BSB | Josh Elander Postgame Media vs. Missouri (3.22.26)
Sunday, March 22
