“Breezy” Wynn, one of Knoxville’s most successful industrialists/businessmen, was a star fullback at UT, lettering in 1931, 1932, and 1933. He also played basketball in 1932-33. Wynn broke his leg in the first game of the 1933 season—an injury that, according to Coach Neyland, cost the team three defeats.
In 1936 Wynn established the Southern Athletic Company in Knoxville on borrowed money and with few sewers, making uniforms and equipment that were lighter than those currently in use. The company’s first location was in the Emporium Building on Gay Street.
When World War II began, he shifted his production lines to make military apparel and equipment—his factories produced more than nine million duffle bags, as well as the M-65 jacket (now manufactured by Alpha Industries, a company that grew out of the Wynn confederation) and pants for the Lend Lease program. By the 1950s, the Wynn family owned more than 21 area clothing factories.
Wynn assisted other Knoxville-based companies that participated in Department of Defense apparel contracting, and the group became a loose federation of affiliated government contractors. During the 1950s and ’60s, Wynn leased factory space to companies, provided them with technical assistance, and trained employees to manufacture Defense Department apparel. In 1964 Wynn sold his remaining interest in Southern Athletic Company to Diversa Inc. of Dallas and remained president of the company until his retirement the next year.
Shortly after retiring, Wynn formed Wynn Industries, which took over the idle Apparel Corporation of America. A February 1977 fire in the Wynn Building destroyed all of his personal papers. Wynn was a founder and president of the Knoxville Quarterback Club and president of the Knoxville Symphony Society, among many other civic and charitable commitments.