Jack Agee Faulkner came to Cumberland College, now University of the Cumberlands, in August 1961 at his parent's recommendation. As a senior in high school, Faulkner entered an open track meet hosted by Tennessee Tech University where he recorded two victories over competing high school and collegiate athletes by winning the mile at 4:35 and the half mile at 2:03.
Faulkner would go on to set five Cumberland records in track and field and cross country events. He ran the 330 yard intermediate hurdles as well as competing in the high jump, pole vault, javelin, and the triple jump. In most meets he would compete in five or six events including relays. During his junior year he did not lose in the 880 yard event and lost the mile event only once. This was reversed in his senior year loosing only once in the 880 and not loosing in the mile run the entire season.
Voted Most Athletic of his senior class, Faulkner was also named captain of the Track and Cross Country Teams his final two years. As a senior he scored 128 3/4 points to lead the team to an 8-1 season. The team's only loss was to OVC perennial power Austin Peay University in a three way meet held at the University of Louisville; final score was Austin Peay, 73 1/2, Cumberland 71 1/2, and U of L 28. This was Faulkner's only loss in the 880 during the track season, finishing second to the Austin Peay runner. It was during this meet that Faulkner set the Cumberland mile record at 4:19.4. Four other Cumberland school records held by Faulkner include: 880- 1:56.1, Mile Relay team- anchor leg 51.7, Two Mile Relay team- anchor leg 1:56.0, Sprint Medley Relay team- anchor leg 1:57.
He set course records at the home course in Williamsburg, Union and at Pikeville. In 1962 the Cross Country team traveled to Detroit, MI, to compete in the National Junior Cross Country Run. The team placed fifth in a field of over forty teams. Jack was among the top finishers.
Cumberland's Cross Country teams defeated the University of Tennessee three consecutive years during Faulkner's tenure. His teams faced other challenges by scheduling top programs in the region such as Kentucky, Furman, Western Kentucky, Morehead State, Carson Newman, Berea, Maryville, Bryan, East Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Louisville, Troy State, Union, Pikeville, Georgetown, Concord, Milligan, Berry, Shorter, West Georgia, and Taylor.
After graduating in May 1965, he taught school in Meade, Michigan for one year. Faulkner then returned home to LaFollette, Tennessee where he taught for 37 years. His day of retirement on September 11, 2001 will forever be linked with history.
Faulkner married the former Binnie Ruth Noe, Cumberland Class of 1966. Currently residing in LaFollette, their forty year marriage has produced six children, including twelve grandchildren. Jack's brother, John Faulkner, also a track and field champion at Cumberland, was inducted into this Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
