Troy University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2021
Andy Whitener will forever be remembered as one of the most decorated runners in Troy’s cross country and track and field history; however, Whitener’s legacy stretches far beyond the track.
Whitener excelled at winning on the field, winning in the classroom and winning in the community. The now Hall of Famer has earned accolades and honors as an athlete, a student and a healthcare professional.
“Just look at his resume,” former Troy track & field head coach and Troy University Hall of Famer John ‘Doc’ Anderson said. “It will tell you everything you need to know about Andy Whitener. He is well-deserving of this honor, and his success will always be a part of our cross country and track and field history.”
The distance runner earned several All-America honors, was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and is now a leading professional in the health care field.
“His academics are just as good when you look at what he did,” Anderson said. “He was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and student-athlete of the year. He was on an academic scholarship, and he took that seriously.”
With Whitener leading the way, the Trojans dominated the Gulf South Conference earning four consecutive cross country championships and the 1977 Gulf South Conference outdoor track & field title.
“Andy checked all of my boxes,” Anderson said. “Athletics makes you strong. Study makes you wise. Character makes you great. That sums up Andy. He was the total package.”
The Tampa, Fla., native earned NAIA All-America honors in 1977 as a member of the two-mile indoor relay team. Whitener then earned USTFF All-American honors the following year in the same event.
Whitener’s 1978 success continued as he was named the Gulf South Conference’s Student-Athlete of the Year, received the Commissioners Award and was awarded the NCAA’s Postgraduate Scholarship.
Despite Troy’s standing in the NAIA, Whitener ran in the 1977 NCAA Cross Country National Championship Meet and the 1978 NCAA National Championship Meet in the 1500 meters.
“He deserved all of the recognition and honors,” Anderson said. “It’s funny to think that I didn’t even realize some of the awards he had gotten until now. His resume is just that good.”
The track star’s name was also etched into several places of Troy’s record books.
At the time of his graduation, Whitener held Troy school records in the mile, 1500m, 800m, 4x800m relay, distance medley and the two-mile relay.
“He still holds some of the fastest times in the 1500m and 8K for cross country,” Anderson said. “Andy was an insane athlete but also a winner in the classroom. Like I said, he checked all of my boxes because he works hard in every way.”
Since his time as a Troy Track and Field student-athlete, Whitener has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Gainesville Surgery Center, the CEO of the Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital and the Director of the Rehabilitation Institute and Wellness at the Northeast Georgia Health System.
While his running legacy is undeniable, Whitener has set the standard for what it means to be a Troy student-athlete. The now leader in the health care profession has become the model for what success in the classroom and after Troy looks like.
