The winner of the Volunteer Symbol contest, Theodore Beck, provided an interpretation of his work, which said in part: “The Volunteer stands well poised with one foot back, suggestive of dignified and forward motion. . . . The Torch is the symbol of enlightenment. The sword, symbol of security, is partially concealed in the folds of the mantle to denote preparedness for defensive rather than offensive strife. The winged victory, borne on the left, is the symbol of success in the sense that the individual bears within himself the qualities which lead him to make the most of his opportunities. . . . Alertness and determination, as indicated by the position of the head, together with the progress forward previously mentioned denote the pioneer in constructive thought and action in all fields of endeavor. Clothing is eliminated as it would have a tendency to make of the symbol a portrait. . . . In other words, it would limit the interpretation to one specific entity or time. . . . The Volunteer is intended to be forever a symbol of principles and not transitory sentimentality.”
Beck’s interpretation was shortened and recast, probably by Vic Davis, into a statement adopted by the university: The Volunteer symbolizes the Spirit of the State and of the University of Tennessee. In his palm rests the Winged Victory, Symbol of Success. Aloft he bears the Torch of Enlightenment, while at his side, partially concealed, hangs the Sword of Protection. His alert and determined forward motion suggests the pioneer spirit of the Volunteer, which presses on in economic, social, and spiritual realms. Free from the garb of any one profession or time, the Volunteer represents all high endeavor throughout all ages. He portrays no passing impulse—he stands for Eternal Principle. For University of Tennessee men and women the Volunteer Symbol is a constant reminder that “He that beareth a torch shadoweth himself to give light to others.”
The reminder is today usually expressed as “One who bears a torch stands in shadow to give light to others.”