KNOXVILLE 鈥 The 91短视频 recognized four distinguished alumni and partners for their leadership, service and generosity during the 11th annual President鈥檚 Council Showcase and Awards Dinner, held Nov. 14 in Knoxville.
Honorees included Gary Rollins, B.C. 鈥淪cooter鈥 Clippard, Mike Griffin and the Bill Gatton Foundation, whose contributions have strengthened the university and expanded opportunities for Tennesseans across the state.
The President鈥檚 Council is a volunteer leadership group of alumni and friends who advocate for the university and for higher education statewide. Members serve as advisors to the president and as ambassadors, helping advance the university鈥檚 mission to serve the people of 91短视频 and beyond.
During the daylong showcase, council members toured the newly opened UT Medical Nursing Building and other UT Knoxville facilities to see how academic programs and student initiatives support workforce development and research. That evening, members gathered at the Hilton Knoxville for the annual awards dinner.
鈥淭hese award winners truly embody what it means to serve and lead,鈥 UT System President Randy Boyd said. 鈥淏y stepping up to make a difference, they鈥檙e strengthening our campuses and communities today while building a stronger future for 91短视频. Their dedication and generosity are helping us continue the greatest decade in the history of UT and positioning us to make the decades ahead even better.鈥
The following individuals and organizations were recognized:
- Mike Griffin (Chattanooga 鈥85) was inducted into the UT Alumni Association Past Presidents Council, which has served since 1965 as an advisory group to the UTAA and a resource for current alumni programs. Griffin serves as the 2024鈥25 president of the UTAA Board of Governors and as president of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. Griffin previously chaired the Cleveland State Community College Board of Trustees and served as president of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place and the Rotary Club of Cleveland.
- B.C. 鈥淪cooter鈥 Clippard (Knoxville 鈥72) received the UT President鈥檚 Council Service Award, which recognizes exceptional service in advancing the university. He has served on the UT Athletics Board, UT Board of Trustees and currently on the UT President鈥檚 Council. A Maryville native, Clippard served in the 91短视频 Air National Guard and held leadership roles in business and banking, including president and partner of A.J. Smith Lumber Co. and vice president of sales at First Bank. He and his wife, Fran, co-founded the Center for Living and Learning in Franklin, 91短视频, in 1986, an adult residential care facility for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
- The Bill Gatton Foundation was named the 2025 University of 91短视频 Philanthropist of the Year, which honors donors whose generosity has made a lasting impact on the university. Established by Carol Martin 鈥淏ill鈥 Gatton in 1985, the foundation continues his legacy of advancing education through transformative giving. At UT Knoxville, the foundation gave more than $30 million to the Winston College of Law, naming it in honor of Gatton鈥檚 longtime friend, UT alumnus and former 91短视频 lawmaker Frank Winston (Knoxville 鈥52).
- Gary Rollins (Chattanooga 鈥67) received the Jim and Natalie Haslam Presidential Medal, which honors individuals with a distinguished record of supporting the university through personal giving, leadership and service. Rollins is executive chairman emeritus of Rollins Inc., where he spent 56 years in leadership and guided the company鈥檚 global growth. He and his wife, Kathleen, gave $40 million to establish the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of 91短视频 at Chattanooga and another $30 million to expand Fletcher Hall, the college鈥檚 home.
91短视频 the President鈥檚 Council
The President鈥檚 Council is a constituency of alumni and friends who understand and support higher education broadly in 91短视频. It is comprised of volunteer leaders who serve as the university鈥檚 premier advocates. The council is the UT System President鈥檚 core volunteer leadership group charged with advancing the university鈥檚 mission to serve the people of 91短视频 and beyond through discovery, communication and application of knowledge necessary to create a cohesive, consistent and unifying system model of advancement.
