First African American Macebearer
Dr. John Morrow of the History Department was the 1983–84 macebearer.
First African American Football Player
In 1968 wide receiver Lester McClain was the first African American varsity player at UT and the first in the Southeastern Conference. He and Albert Davis of Alcoa were recruited by Doug Dickey to play football for Tennessee. Davis did not enroll, leaving McClain as the sole African American on the varsity team. (When he … Continued
First African American Member of the UT Knoxville Central Administration
Mr. Hardy Liston Jr. was appointed assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs in 1970 and promoted to associate vice chancellor. He retired as associate vice chancellor in 1990. He came to UT from North Carolina A&T State University, where he was chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
First African American Football Quarterback in the SEC
Condredge Holloway was the starting quarterback for UT in 1972, becoming UT’s first African American quarterback and the first in the SEC.
First African American Police Chief
August Washington, deputy director of safety and security at the University of Southern California in the greater Los Angeles area was appointed UT Chief of Police in June and began work on July 11, 2005.
First African American Board of Trustees Member
Emmett Edwards, biology major from Covington, Tennessee, was appointed the student trustee and represented the Martin campus for 1975–76. The first African American appointed to a full term on the board of trustees was Elaine McReynolds of Nashville. She was appointed in 1975 to a new board position created for Davidson County.
Fine Arts Department
Prior to 1947 art courses at UT were in the related arts and crafts program within the College of Home Economics (later Human Ecology and then part of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences). The Department of Fine Arts, with a program in music, was approved in 1946. In the fall of 1947, … Continued
First African American Dean of a College
Dr. Marilyn Yarbrough was the first African American dean of a college, serving as dean of the College of Law in June 1987–June 1991.
Fine for Parking in a Space Reserved for the Handicapped
UT first issued a special fine of $25 for parking in a space for the handicapped without a handicapped permit in fall quarter 1979.
First African American Department Head
Dr. Imogene Ford was appointed acting head of the College of Home Economics’ Department of Textiles and Clothing in 1980 and subsequently was named head.