Tom Elam, who received his undergraduate degree from UT in 1931 in history and graduated from the College of Law in 1934, served for 42 years on the UT Board of Trustees and even longer on the Athletics Board. Governor Frank Clement appointed Elam to the board of trustees in 1956. In 1996, when his current term as UT Trustee was about to expire, the Tennessee General Assembly extended his term to 2020, with the provision that should the seat become vacant, it would not be filled.
Elam, a respected businessman and attorney from Union City, Tennessee, was a chart man for General Neyland’s football teams while an undergraduate. In 1929 he was the basketball team manager and was awarded a letter. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the All Students’ Council and was subsequently elected secretary of the ASC. He was managing editor, and then editor in chief, of the Orange and White; editor of the Volunteer; and was president of the Men’s Pan-Hellenic Council (forerunner of the Interfraternity Council). He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Scabbard and Blade, and the Scarabbean Society.
He was a retired colonel in the US Army and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 1959 he served as special judge of the Court of Appeals. He was a civilian aide to the secretary of the army, president of the Dyersburg Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and a banker.
The Neyland Stadium press box, which stretches one hundred yards and contains four levels of skyboxes, executive suites, box seating, and complete facilities for print and broadcast media, was named for him in 1992, in recognition of his years of service and generous contributions to the university.