WelcomeTonight we come together to celebrate a special moment in a remarkable year for the University of Tennessee. Since our founding in 1794, UT has been a beacon of leadership, service, and academic excellence. Through our pursuit of new discoveries, our drive to make a top education available to everyone, and our dedication to creating opportunities for all Tennesseans, we are committed to fulfilling our promise as Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university. UT’s greatest legacy will always be our graduates. We have more than 250,000 alumni around the globe—more than half of them right here in Tennessee. It is a privilege for me to see you live out our legacy every day. Being a Volunteer means leading with courage, solving big problems, and helping people who need it. In our communities, our state, and our country, you are making the world better as Volunteers who light the way for others. Donde Plowman Chancellor FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 1 8/20/19 1:05 PM 2019–20 ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Berry (’77) Tracy Frazier (’83) Donde Plowman President At Large Ex Officio— Chancellor Phil Jacobs (’77) Chris Grabenstein (’77) President-Elect At Large Chip Bryant (’93) Ex Officio— Susan Crunk (’80) Freida Herron (’05, ’14) Vice Chancellor for Immediate Past President At Large Advancement Robert B. Lewis III (’81) Micah Johnson (’10) Kerry Witcher (’81) Past President At Large Ex Officio— President for UT Foundation Carol Aebersold (’70) Mason Jones (’04, ’07) At Large At Large Lee Patouillet (’76) Ex Officio— Jennifer Armstrong (’72) Bill Killian (’71, ’74) Associate Vice Chancellor for At Large At Large Alumni Affairs Maj. Gen. Gary Beard (’80) Joe McDonald (’75, ’79) Gary Skolits At Large At Large Ex Officio— Faculty Senate President Stacey Becker (’98) Jim McKinley (’77) At Large At Large Betsey Creekmore Ex Officio— Don Bosch (’85, ’88) Todd Metcalf (’93) Special Interest and At Large Presidential Appointee Diversity Councils Representative Elizabeth Clement-Webb J. Phenise Poole (’95) (’03, ’05) At Large Natalie Campbell At Large Ex Officio— Lisa Reed (’86) SGA President Mei Ling Davis (’06, ’12) At Large At Large Amie Cohorst (’11) Terry Smith (’80) Ex Officio— Mike Dennis (’76) Presidential Appointee Young Alumni Council President At Large Jennifer Stanley (’95) Jack Duren Joshua Dobbs (’17) At Large Ex Officio— At Large SAA President Linda Hampton Starnes (’82) Gordon Ferguson (’82) At Large Jenna Dulling (’10) At Large Ex Officio— Jamie Woodson (’94, ’97) Alumni Coordinator, Secretary Susan Foard (’84, ’85) At Large At Large 2 FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 2 8/20/19 1:05 PM ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT MIKE BERRY Berry is a 1977 graduate of the Haslam College of Business. He retired from Eastman Chemical Company, headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, in 2016 as a vice president and chief procurement officer of the Fortune 300 company. His 39 years of service were primarily in management roles of the procurement and global supply chain areas. Berry met his wife Nancy, a graduate of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, when both were members of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. They will once again march with other band alumni at this year’s Homecoming. Berry is currently president of the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors. The couple has endowed two scholarships in the Haslam College of Business and another to support Student Alumni Associates. Both have been active in numerous UT organizations such as the Women’s Council, Board of Governors, Legislative Council, and the Alumni Board of Directors. Berry is also involved on boards in the Tri-Cities area including Second Harvest, Ballad Health, and his local church. When Berry isn’t cheering on the Vols, the Tennessee Titans, or the Atlanta Braves, he enjoys traveling, playing golf, and keeping up with his four grandchildren. Originally from Kingsport, the Berrys now live in Johnson City. 3 FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 3 8/20/19 1:05 PM The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the Alumni Board of Directors proudly present the Alumni Awards and 225th Anniversary Gala. Volunteers have been lighting the way for others, across Tennessee and throughout the world, for 225 years. During this academic year, we are celebrating our storied past and charting our future. Tonight, we recognize and honor alumni in four categories: the Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award, Professional Achievement Award, Alumni Service Award, and Alumni Promise Award. These graduates have gone on to become professional and personal achievers in their fields and have loyally dedicated their time and service to their alma mater. We welcome all those attending and thank you for your devotion, service, leadership, and passion for the University of Tennessee. 4 FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 4 8/20/19 1:05 PM 1862–65 1807–1820 During the Civil War After the start of the Civil 1879 War, university activity was suspended in 1862. 1794 East Tennessee College 1869 Blount College was renamed East Tennessee Renamed the University of College in 1807 during Tennessee Samuel Carrick’s presidency. In 1879, the state legislature redesignated East Tennessee Blount College Founded University as the University Blount College was founded 1840 of Tennessee. two years before the state Land-Grant University of Tennessee in what is now Designation, College of downtown Knoxville on Agriculture Founded East Tennessee University 1889 September 10, 1794. was designated a recipient of federal land-grant funds Orange and White Colors provided by the Morrill Act 1804 UT Athletic Association of 1862. Renamed East Tennessee President Charles Moore University chose orange and white The renaming took place in colors for UT’s first field 1840 by the state legislature 1872 day on April 12, 1889. during the presidency of Joseph Estabrook. South College Built South College, the oldest First Women Admitted building on campus, was Five women were among built in 1872 as a dormitory Blount College’s admitted and campus armory for students in 1804, making it what was then East one of the first coeducational Tennessee University. colleges in America. 5 FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 5 8/20/19 1:05 PM 1916 1952 1891 1961 First Homecoming Game First Black Undergraduates On November 11, 1916, UT Admitted defeated Vanderbilt 10-6 Theotis Robinson Jr., Charles in the first Homecoming First Football Game Blair, and Willie Mae Gillespie football game. The band led On Thanksgiving Day, First Black Graduate Student were UT’s first admitted the first Homecoming parade November 26, 1891, a UT’s first black graduate black undergraduates in with the university cadet combination of 11 young student, Gene Mitchell Gray, January 1961. corps in dress uniform. men from the Knoxville was admitted. Football Club and UT played a team from nearby 1921 1966 Harriman, Tennessee. 1953–55 1902 Ayres Hall Completed Ayres Hall, a four-story brick Rock Unearthed and limestone structure Before the Rock became a completed on the summit of First Called Volunteers Smokey I, First UT Mascot, beloved campus message the Hill in 1921, is UT’s most The UT football team was in Service board, a very small portion recognized building. called the Volunteers for In 1953, the UT Pep Club of it was visible in the lawn the first time in 1902 when held a contest to select a of Calvary Baptist Church, the Atlanta Constitution coonhound as the school’s where Fraternity Park is newspaper reported on a 1932 live mascot. Rev. W. C. “Bill” now located. football game between UT Brooks’s prize-winning and Georgia Tech. bluetick coonhound Volunteer Symbol and “Brooks’s Blue Smokey” Volunteer Creed Adopted was chosen as the winner. UT adopted the Volunteer Creed and the university’s official symbol. 6 FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 6 8/20/19 1:05 PM 1974 2009 1994 1968 Honorary Degree for Dolly Parton Pat Summitt Named UT awarded entertainment Volunteer “Torchbearer” Women’s Head Basketball legend and philanthropist Statue Unveiled Coach Dolly Parton an honorary UT 200th Anniversary The administration unveiled Pat Summitt transformed doctorate during the spring UT celebrated its 200th the Torchbearer statue, and legitimized the sport of 2009 commencement. anniversary in 1994 with a officially named the Volunteer basketball during her 38-year gala at Thompson-Boling statue, in Circle Park on career as head coach of the Arena that included the UT April 19, 1968. Lady Vols basketball team Chorus singing “Rocky Top” 2019 and won eight NCAA national in Latin. A brass plaque set championships. in the sidewalk in front of 1972 Morgan Hall commemorates 1981 the anniversary. 2005 Donde Plowman Chancellorship “Rocky Top” First Played Donde Plowman was selected Since the Pride of the as UT’s ninth chancellor. Southland Band first played Bill Bass Began the “Rocky Top” during halftime Body Farm of the Tennessee-Alabama In 1981, Bill Bass had been First Female Drum Major 2019–20 football game on October 21, head of the Department The Pride of the Southland 1972, it has become one of of Anthropology for 10 Band welcomed Kelly UT’s most popular songs. years when he built the UT’s 225th Anniversary Bradshaw as its first Anthropology Research UT will spend the 2019–20 female drum major. Facility—more popularly academic year celebrating known as the Body Farm— our 225th anniversary. with his graduate students. 7 FY20_AlumniGala_Program_8x8_PRINT.indd 7 8/20/19 1:05 PM ProgramOPENING REMARKS Mike Berry, President, UT Knoxville