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Clarence Leon Brown, The auto industry did not hold his attention for long and B.S. 1910 (posthumous) Brown became fascinated with what were then called moving This year, the university celebrates the 35th pictures. He talked his way into anniversary of the establishment of the highly a job working as an assistant to regarded Clarence Brown Company at the the pioneering French director, University of . Clarence and Marian , who was Brown gave $11.2 million from their estate making silent pictures in New to establish an endowment that supports the Jersey. Brown moved up steadily Clarence Brown Theatre. in the film industry and signed Brown also made the initial a contract in 1927 with Metro- gift that made the building Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) where of the theatre a reality. he directed and produced films Brown, one of until 1953. He groomed new stars the university’s most such as and was a personal friend of his boss at MGM, accomplished alumni and Louis B. Mayer. one of its highest patrons, is Brown was nominated for the Academy Award for best director six a major figure in American cinema. In histories times during the 1930s. He made the transition from silent films to and memoirs, he is always listed among the talkies with classics such as National Velvet and The Yearling and was most outstanding early directors, but because of the favorite director of screen legend . Over the course of his personal modesty and unwillingness to allow his career, Brown directed 52 feature-length films that were nominated commercial exploitation of his career, the wide range for 38 and won eight. His film Intruder in the Dust, of his contribution to motion picture art has never adapted from William been fully explored. Faulkner’s novel, won A prodigy in many respects, Brown graduated from Knoxville the prestigious United High School in 1906, at the age of 15, and received special permission Nations Award from to enter UT to study engineering. Four years later, at the age of 19, the British Academy he graduated with two degrees in engineering. During World War I, Film Awards in 1950. he learned to fly and served as an instructor in the air corps. In his early 20s, he started and ran his own successful car dealership in Birmingham, .

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Natalie Leach Haslam, member and major supporter of the B.A. 1952 Friends of Great Smoky Mountains Natalie Haslam received her bachelor’s degree National Park. from the UT Knoxville College of Liberal Arts In 2001, she and was selected Miss served as chair of in 1952. the 16-member Haslam’s longtime service to her alma Commission on mater is remarkable. She currently serves Excellence for as the co-chair of the College of Arts and the Fine and Sciences Campaign Leadership Committee, Performing Arts, co-chair, along with her husband Jim, of composed of six the university’s $1 billion comprehensive community leaders fundraising campaign, The Campaign for and nine university Tennessee, and is a member of Friends of the employees UT Gardens. She is a former member of the representing the UT Knoxville College of Arts and Sciences arts and campus Board of Visitors, the UT Knoxville Chancellor’s administration. Associates and the executive board of the UT Under her Alliance of Women Philanthropists. Haslam leadership, the committee submitted a report recommending strong was very involved in organizing UT’s Speech support for the arts and several major improvements to the music and Hearing Clinic. Both she and Jim were named facilities. Her letter of nomination states that “in so many ways, Volunteers of the Year in 1992. Natalie exemplifies the absolute best of the college through her Along with her continued support of the University unselfish service to her alma mater.” of Tennessee, Haslam embodies the volunteer spirit in the As a perfect tribute to her dedicated support of the arts—and Knoxville community, serving on the Knoxville Symphony Board and particularly music—the university’s much-anticipated new School the East Tennessee Historical Society Board. She also has served on of Music building, currently in the planning stage, will be named in the Knoxville Arts Council and has been a member of the Tennessee her honor. Roger Stephens, director of the School of Music, sums it Arts Commission and president of the Tennessee Presidents Trust. up well by saying, “There is no doubt that the leadership provided Additionally, she has been involved in community activities such as by Natalie Haslam has helped the School of Music achieve national the United Way of Knoxville, East Tennessee Foundation, Knoxville prominence.” Garden Club, Knoxville Zoo and the Wellness Center. She is a founding

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Century Campaign in 1994-98, James A. Haslam II which raised $432 million for the B.S. 1952 University of Tennessee system. Haslam has chaired the Uni- To anyone who has heard his story—and cer- versity of Tennessee Foundation tainly to his proud alma mater—Jim Haslam, and guided its strategic planning founder and chairman of Knoxville-based since its founding in 2002. He has Pilot Corp., personifies the successful business served on the board of directors of entrepreneur with the strongest of philan- the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center thropic instincts. Not only have Jim and his for Public Policy at the University wife, Natalie, generously supported the Uni- of Tennessee since its inception versity of Tennessee, local civic groups, the in 2003. Until only a few years arts and human services, their efforts to en- ago, Haslam was the longest- courage others to give to the university and serving trustee on the university’s nonprofit organizations have reached legend- Board of Trustees and its past vice ary proportions. In this case, the legend is not chair. Additionally, he was ap- an exaggeration. pointed for a six-year term beginning in 2006 as a trustee of the John F. After graduating from UT, Haslam served Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during Jim and Natalie currently serve as co-chairs of the university’s $1 the Korean Conflict. After completing his ac- billion comprehensive fundraising campaign, The Campaign for Ten- tive duty, he put his finance degree to good use in nessee, and have made significant personal investments. They also 1958 when he opened a gas station in Gate City, have raised millions more from donors who gave to the university in Va. Haslam proceeded to build that one station it response to a visit by Jim Haslam. Many of these donors were inspired into Pilot Corp., the largest travel center company to make significant investments in response to the Haslams’ generosity. in the nation. Pilot owns and operates more than 300 The new College of Business Administration building bears the travel centers in 40 states coast-to-coast and recently opened a Haslam name and communicates to students, alumni, friends, faculty location in Canada. Pilot Travel Centers is also one of the largest res- and staff those principles that our university seeks to deliver each day. taurant operators in the U.S. Leadership, ethical business practices, a commitment to be successful While he steered his phenomenally successful business, Haslam co- and a desire to make a difference are qualities that rise to the surface in chaired UT Knoxville’s first major capital campaign, The Tennessee Jim Haslam. Tomorrow Campaign in 1977-80, which received commitments total- ing $57 million, and again led UT Knoxville’s efforts during The 21st

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Howard H. Baker Jr. J.D. 1949

Howard Baker began his road to political suc- cess in Huntsville, Tennessee. He attended The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and then matriculated to Tulane University in New Orleans. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to school, graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1949. Baker’s political career began in the late 1960s and continued in earnest through the 1980s. In the 1966 Senate election, Baker became the first Republican elected from Tennessee since Reconstruction. He served as a Tennessee senator from 1967 until 1985. During that time, he was twice Senate Minor- ity Leader and twice Senate Majority Leader. Baker was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, served as Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan in 1987-88, and was a for- mer U.S. Ambassador to Japan. During his celebrated political career, Baker did not lose touch with his home state, and he remained commit- knowledge of our system of governance, and to highlight the critical ted to the University of Tennessee. The rotunda at the College of Law importance of public service, a hallmark of Sen. Baker’s career. now is named in Baker’s honor. Additionally, the Howard H. Baker Jr. To continue the growth and development of the Baker Center Center for Public Policy was established in 2001. The center is a non- and its impact, in 2005 the University of Tennessee broke ground partisan organization that emphasizes better understanding of govern- on a new facility to house the program. Completed in late 2008, the ment and better appreciation of the importance of public service. The 53,000-square-foot building provides space for educational programs, center develops programs and promotes research to further the public’s exhibits, public lectures, collections, research and administrative uses.

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