Transcending Tactile Intelligence with Benny Vaughn

The deep south was a dangerous and treacherous place for a young black man in the 1960’s; Benny Vaughn drank from “colored” water fountains, pedaled away from viscous dogs while passing through white neighborhoods, and rode in the back of buses. 

Benny turned hardships into opportunity through his actions. He was the first black athlete to win the Georgia state high school cross country championships and during the spring of his senior year, he won the 440, 880, Mile, and Mile relay—leading Baker High to its first ever state track and field championship by a two-point margin. 

One of the most highly recruited athletes in the country, Benny accepted a full  scholarship from the University of Florida, one of five African American athletes picked as ambassadors for racial equality in a slowly desegregating southern landscape. 

For over forty-six years, Benny has been internationally recognized as the father of sports massage therapy, supporting athletes at five Olympic Games. As medical liaison and manager of athlete services for the Atlanta Centennial Olympic games, he incorporated massage therapy into the medical provisions for the athletes. This iconoclastic trailblazer prepared his whole life to break stereotypes, oppression, and prejudice.

Through the mastery of his craft and the harnessing of his healing energy,  sharing his tactile intelligence, knowledge, education, and experience at his state of the art, Benny Vaughn Athletic Training Center. Benny continues to mentor athletes and massage therapists thorough his Benny Vaughn Life Coaching programs. 

Benny is the recipient of the American Massage Therapy Association Merit Award, the One Lifetime Concept Achievement Award, the Award of Excellence from the National Athletic Trainers Association, and an inductee into the UF Health and Human Performance Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2020 Benny gave the commencement speech at his alma mater, to graduates of the UF College of Health and Human Performance. It is such a joy, honor, and privilege to welcome my friend and earliest mentor Benny to this episode of Intrinsic Drive™. 

Intrinsic Drive™ is produced by Ellen Strickler and Phil Wharton. Special thanks to Andrew Hollingworth, our sound engineer and technical editor.  For more information on this and other episodes visit us at www.whartonhealth.com/intrinsicdrive   Follow us on socials (links below) including   Instagram  @intrinsicdrivelive