Myth—College of Business Professor Tony Spiva worked for $1 per year

Colorful, respected, and generally accorded “outstanding teacher,” Dr. George “Tony” Spiva (1928–2013) came to UT in 1958 as economics professor. Known for taking expeditions to end-of-the-earth wilderness in search of adventure and distance (true), it was not true that he worked for $1 per year because of his great wealth and great enthusiasm for teaching. Nor was it true that the source of his wealth was his wife, who was a DuPont. Spiva received his professor’s pay from UT, and his wife brought to the marriage neither boatloads of money nor a connection to the DuPonts.

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  • Title Myth—College of Business Professor Tony Spiva worked for $1 per year
  • Author
  • Keywords Myth—College of Business Professor Tony Spiva worked for $1 per year
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date July 15, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 9, 2018