James Robert (Bob) Abernathy, son of J.O. and Myrtle Speer Abernathy grew up near Kittrell , Tennessee .  Abernathy graduated from Kittrell High School in 1925.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State Teachers College in 1929 and a master’s degree from Peabody in1934 including two years of graduate study at Duke University. 

Abernathy began his teaching career at Rockvale High School in Rutherford County and then went on to teach English and establish a very successful record coaching basketball at Woodbury High School in Cannon County .  While teaching at Woodbury he met, taught, and later married Jim Henrixson.   Bob and Jim had two children, Dr. J. Paul Abernathy and Janie Abernathy Campbell.

Abernathy served as Assistant Director of Local School Studies for the Tennessee State Department of Education.  He then served as an instructor in the Training Schools at Austin Peay State College and Middle Tennessee State College. Three years later he became Director of Training and Placement for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, State of Tennessee .  Abernathy returned to Middle Tennessee State College in 1947 as director of recruitment, placement, and extension classes.  In 1961 President Quill Cope appointed Abernathy as the first director of the new administrative unit of Field Services, Development and Special Services from which he retired in 1972.

Abernathy is perhaps best known in his role as ambassador for Middle Tennessee State University .  Over the course of his MTSU career Abernathy made more that 2,500 speaking appearances in 21 states.  These speaking engagements encompassed business and industry groups, professional organizations, civic groups, church related organizations, athletic events, charity organizations , school assemblies, and educational organizations.

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