The six-month 1982 World’s Fair was immediately adjacent to the campus. The theme of the fair was “Energy Turns the World.” UT did not have an exhibit because the cost of the least-expensive outdoor exhibit was $75,000, but more than three thousand students worked for the fair, pavilions, exhibits, or concessions; the College of Nursing operated the fair’s Wellness Station; WSJK Television produced the on-site television coverage; and the College of Veterinary Medicine cared for the Budweiser Clydesdales, who performed in fair parades. Fair management and the board of directors was laced with IT connections: president of the Knoxville International Energy Exposition (the organization that produced the fair) was S. H. “Bo” Roberts, a 1960 UT graduate. Senior executive vice presidents were James Drinnon Jr., former chancellor at UT Chattanooga, and Emmett Edwards, UT at Martin. Executive vice presidents were Walter Lambert, on leave from his UT post as director of federal relations, and George Siler (1966, 1970). Jack Proffitt, a UT alumnus whose degree was in economics, served as chief financial officer, and Charles Swan, whose UT degree was in accounting, served as vice president for finance. W. Stewart Evans, an employee of the Institute for Public Service (UT ’53), was housing coordinator, and Theotis Robinson Jr., who attended UT, was vice president for economic development. Chairman of the board was Jake Butcher, who attended UT. Alumnus and UT President Edward J. Boling served on the board of the fair.
Having a World’s Fair in Knoxville was initially suggested by W. Stewart Evans who, as an employee of the Downtown Knoxville Association, had attended a conference in 1975 and heard about the benefits to San Antonio and Seattle from the “theme” World’s Fairs held in those cities. Mayor Kyle Testerman, another UT graduate, appointed a feasibility study group, and the fair evolved. To acquire and prepare the site, the City of Knoxville, under Mayor Randy Tyree (UT class of 1967) issued $11.6 million in bonds. Thousands of students, alumni, and employees were involved with the fair, which recorded that 11,127,786 visitors passed through the turnstiles during the six-month run. The fair paid all its bills before the Knoxville International Energy Exposition (KIEE) was disbanded.