Dr. LeRoy Graf, who worked his way through college as a piano player, joined the faculty of the university’s Department of History in 1945 and served as its head from 1965 to 1980. In 1972 he was appointed alumni distinguished service professor and held that post until he retired in 1985. He was a specialist in American history and initiated the editing of The Papers of Andrew Johnson, supported by the university, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He and coeditor Ralph Haskins edited the first seven volumes of the series. He was also the author of numerous articles in scholarly journals.
In 1965 he, other faculty, and members of the Knoxville community were successful in bringing a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa to the university. In 1976 he began service as a member of the senate of the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa. He acted in several UT plays, sat for one of the depicted characters in Marion Greenwood’s mural in the ballroom of the university center, and served as president of the Faculty Senate (1983–84). He retired in 1985 but continued to work as a volunteer in the Arts and Sciences Advising Center. His contributions to the intellectual life of the university have been recognized by placement of a plaque in his honor on a faculty study.