In 1998 Senators Bill Frist and Fred Thompson sponsored an amendment to the federal budget bill authorizing a $10 million endowment to establish the Howard Baker School of Government at UT. The amendment died in the House Education Committee. In 1999 Representative John Duncan reintroduced the bill, with bipartisan support of Tennessee House members, and … Continued

Howard Baker Jr. had given directions that his antique car collection of six vehicles be sold following his death with the proceeds going to the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. He had lain in repose in the Baker Center Building, just feet away from which the March 14, 2015, auction was conducted … Continued

Several thousand students gathered in Alumni Memorial Building in 1971 as Buffalo Bob Smith and Howdy Doody came to campus. With almost total audience participation, the audience sang “It’s Howdy Doody Time,” and “Happy Trails to You.” The 10th anniversary Howdy Doody film clip was shown, and the audience cheered the ageless, freckled-faced marionette Howdy … Continued

In the 1920s and early 1930s the institution set aside one week each spring as Howdy Week. During the week, all students, professors and deans were expected to greet everyone with a cheerful “Howdy.” The purpose of the week, according to the UT publication for entering freshmen, the Torch, was “to remind students and faculty … Continued

The west half of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Building (offices) was opened for fall 1970, with the remainder of the building—gyms, locker rooms, and handball courts—opening later in the quarter. The delay was due to a strike that halted construction for two months during the summer. Designed by Lindsey and Maples, the building … Continued

On March 30, 1979, Hugh Hicks Jr., a junior in liberal arts, collapsed and died while playing basketball in the HPER Building.

Graduate student Nathan Stephens, 22, died August 17, 2007, after he became unconscious while playing basketball. An honors student, he was working toward a master’s in education at the time of his death and planned to teach history. He was a manager on the UT basketball team and had been a three-year starter at shooting … Continued

In 1981 the HRIS system replaced the payroll system developed in the early 1960s and added personnel action capability to the computerized system. Payroll was first run from the system April 1, 1981. HRIS was subsequently replaced by IRIS (a commercial management system developed by SAP AG ADS).

Thirty-six residential lots fronting Hayes Avenue and Princeton Avenue in the Circle Park Land Company’s addition to Knoxville were purchased as a block in April 1937 by UT from Margaret H. and Henry Hudson for $13,000, principally to provide practice fields and a baseball diamond but also to serve as a drill field for ROTC … Continued