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PETE student featured in Daily Memphian

January 1, 2025

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Excerpt from the Daily Memphian

Three years ago, Will Barto’s life changed forever.

When he spoke then with his father, Danton Barto, who was hospitalized because of COVID-19, Will never imagined it would be their final conversation.

Danton Barto, the Memphis Tigers’ football leader in career tackles, was 50 years old. Will Barto made a promise during their final talk. He, at 22 years old, pledged to Danton that he would earn a college degree in preparation for a football coaching career.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I really want to go back to school, and this is kind of what I want to pursue,’ ” Will recalled. “And he just told me, he said, ‘I want you to do what makes you happy and I want you to pursue your goals the way I pursued mine.’

Will kept his word and officially graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Physical Education Teacher Education (Sports Coaching) during the UofM winter commencement ceremony at FedExForum.

“He was not going to break that promise to his dad,” said Rachel Barto, Will’s mom and Danton’s ex-wife. “That would have crushed his spirit and crushed his soul. His dad was his best friend. He would have done anything, and he did.”