Halbert Harvill (November 28, 1893 – December 1, 1986) was an American university president,

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

and

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

coach, and politician. A native of Tennessee, Harvill became an educator and taught in small towns until he served in the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Upon his return from war, he attended

Middle Tennessee State University Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or MT) is a Public university, public research university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight Undergraduate education, undergraduate colleges as ...

where he graduated in 1927. Harvill moved to

Murfreesboro, Tennessee Murfreesboro is a city in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 165,430 according to the 2023 census estimate, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010 United States census, 2010. Murfreesboro i ...

to become an assistant professor of history at

Austin Peay State University Austin Peay State University (APSU) () is a public university in Clarksville, Tennessee, United States. Standing on a site occupied by a succession of educational institutions since 1845, the precursor of the university was established in 1927 ...

. After a few years, he fought in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and upon his return Harvill was named the next president of Austin Peay. Harvill held the position from 1946 to 1962. During his tenure, the school grew from 417 full-time students to 2,118 and had constructed 13 new buildings. Harvill also served as the school's first ever men's basketball head coach and just their second ever baseball head coach. He coached the basketball team in 1929–30 and again from 1933 to 1936, and he coached baseball from 1933 through 1936. His overall records were 29–18 (basketball) and 27–23 (baseball). Two years after retiring in 1962 as being Austin Peay State University's president, Harvill was convinced by a friend to run for the

Tennessee Senate The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the U.S. state of Tennessee , Tennessee's state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any ...

. At 70 years old he was elected and served for 16 years in the General Assembly's upper chambers before retiring for good. Harvill died at Memorial Hospital in Clarksville, Tennessee on December 1, 1986.

Head coaching records

Basketball

Baseball

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harvill, Halbert 1893 births 1986 deaths Baseball coaches from Tennessee Basketball coaches from Tennessee Austin Peay Governors baseball coaches Austin Peay Governors men's basketball coaches Austin Peay State University faculty Tennessee state senators Middle Tennessee State University alumni People from Clarksville, Tennessee Presidents of Austin Peay State University Sports coaches from Tennessee 20th-century American academics 20th-century members of the Tennessee General Assembly