HALLS 鈥 The Old Briar homestead in Lauderdale County serves as the newest landscape for an Everywhere You Look, UT mural. The pastoral farmland and modern farmhouse are owned by Dennis and Martha O鈥橠ell, who hope the mural painted on the property鈥檚 barn will share their pride in the University of 91短视频 with the community.
This second mural in Lauderdale brings the total number of murals to 72. Located along 91短视频 State Highway 180, it is visible to an estimated 1,034 people each day.
Inspired by a lesson from Andy Holt, UT鈥檚 16th president, O鈥橠ell (HSC 鈥70) has spent many years 鈥渂ragging鈥 on his university 鈥 and the latest Everywhere You Look, UT mural provides another opportunity to do that.
When O鈥橠ell enrolled at UT Health Science Center as a first-year pharmacy student, Holt spoke during his orientation.
鈥淚 think he was an advocate for all students and one of the things that he told us, was the one thing that you can do once you graduate, in addition to going out and enjoying a life and a successful career, is to brag on your university. The one request that he made is that you never forget the years spent here and there’s nothing wrong with bragging when it’s all true,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 try to do that in my own way.鈥
After graduating, O鈥橠ell remained active in the UTHSC community, serving on various advisory councils and committees, including the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Committee. He also spoke to College of Pharmacy students about his career at Walgreens, offering real-world advice and helping connect students with job opportunities.
O鈥橠ell and his wife contribute to UTHSC through an endowed scholarship. The Dennis and Martha O’Dell Scholarship, established in 2005, supports pharmacy students in financial need who come from rural backgrounds.
UT Extension also has recently assisted O鈥橠ell with soil conservation efforts and the construction of water retention structures on the farm. O鈥橠ell said Extension agents are a valuable resource for local farmers.
The property also features a modern farmhouse designed by four UT Knoxville College of Architecture professors. The project emphasized a reinterpretation of historic styles, flexible use of space and cultural sustainability, and it was featured in the UT System alumni magazine, formerly known as , in 2015.
The mural represented another way to host UT on the farm.
The UT System funds the first mural in each county. As the second mural in Lauderdale, O鈥橠ell donated funds for this mural to visibly remind people that the impact of UT is felt every day in rural 91短视频.
鈥淭he University of 91短视频 is committed to preparing students of all ages with a top-notch college education that will serve them well for life,鈥 O鈥橠ell said.
Reflecting on his life, O鈥橠ell credits UTHSC with opening doors and helping him more clearly see opportunities he would have never otherwise envisioned. He hopes this mural will inspire others to consider higher education as their pathway to a rewarding career and a life well lived.
To learn more about the second Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Lauderdale County or to submit a location for consideration,
