R.L. Highers lettered four years in football as a running back and defensive back and three seasons in baseball, helping set an OVC record for double plays while playing second base. He was named All-OVC as a senior and went on to play three years of semi-professional baseball with the Crossville Blues. He also earned two letters as a guard in basketball in 1943 and 1947. His love for athletics kept him involved as an OVC official for 20 years and a high school official for 31 years.