In 1960 the Alumni Association first held a phonathon, in which volunteers called alumni to solicit contributions to the annual giving campaign. The first national project was undertaken January 22–February 14, 1985. The national effort involved 55 students making phone calls four nights a week. More than 200 students applied for the 55 paid calling … Continued
In May 2000 workers on a road project in Gray, Tennessee, encountered soil problems. Harry Moore, a UT masters’ degree holder in geology and the manager of the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Geotechnical Engineering Office in Knoxville, sent office geologist Larry Bolt to the site on May 17. Bolt reported findings that suggested soils from … Continued
The first geology field camp was held in 1949 near Sequatchie Valley.
Howard H. Baker Jr., former senator and later ambassador, was the recipient of the first Founders’ Medal. The medal was presented at the 1996 Charter Day celebration.
Biophysicist Jeremy Smith was appointed in June 2006 as the first holder of a governor’s chair joint appointment between UT and ORNL. His appointment began October 1, 2006, at an annual salary of $230,000 and an ongoing discretionary research fund equal to his 12 months’ salary.
In 1884 the Chi Delta Crescent reported that a football club had been organized but that another club needed to be organized so that games could be played. Two years later the Crescent deplored that although there was much interest in the sport, the university had never had a regularly organized football team.
There was no official team in 1917 (or 1918) because of World War I, but 1917 was the first year season tickets were offered to the unofficial games.
The first intercollegiate football game (1891, against Sewanee) was captained and coached by H. K. Denlinger, who directed the athletic program of the YMCA. The first person to be hired specifically as a football coach was J. A. Pierce in 1899.
Coach M. B. Banks first instituted spring practice in 1925.
In 1914 UT won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship.