UT Martin 125th Celebration
From Hall-Moody to the University of Tennessee at Martin
1900–2025 | UT Martin
The University of Tennessee at Martin traces its roots back to the Hall-Moody Institute, a private Baptist institution established in 1900, later evolving into a teacher training normal school. When the Baptist organization decided to close its doors, the University of Tennessee recognized the importance of establishing a presence in the western part of the state.
Today, UT Martin enrolls over 7,500 students and boasts more than 50,000 alumni. Nestled in the small town of Martin, Tennessee, the university serves as a vital cultural, academic, and economic force for the development of rural West Tennessee. As part of the University of Tennessee System, UT Martin also operates seven regional centers and a comprehensive online program, extending its academic influence across the state, country, and even internationally. Join us as we celebrate the milestones of our last 125 years and look ahead to continuing to build upon our legacy.
For more information, please contact alumni@utm.edu or call (731) 881-7610.
Cheers to 125 Years
UT Martin 125th Anniversary Celebration Calendar of Events
August 21, 2025
UTM Welcome Home Picnic
5 p.m.
Conner Community & Ellington Hall Lawn
August 22, 2025
UTM Take-Off Opening Ceremony
10 a.m.
Tom & Kathleen Elam Center
September 11, 2025
Skyhawk Palooza
TBD
TBD
September 23, 2025
Skyhawks in the City: Nashville
6–8 p.m.
Mere Bulles Restaurant
Register Soon
September 26, 2025
UTM Family Weekend
TBD
TBD
October 5–11, 2025
UTM Homecoming Week
All Week
Multiple Locations
October 5, 2025
ROTC Homecoming 5K Fun Run
3–4 p.m.
Brian Brown Memorial Trail
October 10, 2025
UTM 125th Opening Ceremony
10 a.m.
Watkins Auditorium
November 21, 2025
President’s Gala: A Night of Orange and Blue
5 p.m.
Conner Community & Ellington Hall Lawn
December 2, 2025
Chancellor’s Holiday Open House
4–6 p.m.
UC Ballroom
December 5, 2025
Holiday Art Bazaar Luncheon
Noon–1 p.m.
Fine Arts Building
December 6, 2025
St. Jude Hydration Station w/ UTM Shelby County Alumni Ambassadors
8 a.m.
TBD
December 13, 2025
UTM Fall Commencement
TBD
UTM Campus
January 6, 2026
Write a Skyhawk Campaign Launch
Monthlong Effort
Online
February 21, 2026
Met in Martin
6–9 p.m.
Dunagan Alumni Center
February 21, 2026
Celebration of Generosity & Gratitude
TBD
TBD
April 1, 2026
Captain’s Challenge
All Week
Online
April 6–11, 2026
I Heart UTM Week
All Week
Multiple Locations
April 9–11, 2026
UTM Rodeo Weekend
All Weekend
UTM Campus
April 13–17, 2026
UTM 125th Anniversary Celebration: Chancellor’s State Tour
Multiple Dates
Multiple Locations
April 23, 2026
Senior Celebration
TBD
UTM Campus
April 25, 2026
Happy Birthday, Captain Skyhawk!
All Day
TBD
May 2, 2026
UTM Spring Commencement
TBD
UTM Campus
June 11, 2026
Golden Grad Reunion
TBD
UTM Campus
Pre-Order the UT Martin History Book
The Campus History Series book is available for pre-sale, featuring UT Martin’s history told through historical and present-day photos. From Hall-Moody Institute to the 12th Chancellor’s Investiture, this book highlights historical figures, notable events, and a glimpse of times gone by. $5 of each purchase is a non-refundable, tax-deductible gift to the Special Collections Library fund.
PRE-ORDER THE BOOK NOWOur Timeline
Hall-Moody Institute
The Hall-Moody Institute established by the Beulah Baptist Association, was built on land donated by Ada Gardner Brooks and took shape under the leadership of Dr. L.N. Penick, pastor of Martin’s First Baptist Church. Named in honor of Baptist leaders Elder J.N. Hall and Dr. J.B. Moody, the school offered a 13-year educational track that extended from primary grades to college-level coursework.
Governor Austin Peay signs legislation creating the University of Tennessee Junior College (UTJC)
The school opened in fall on the former Hall-Moody campus and focused on agriculture, home economics, and industrial arts.
UT Martin Student newspaper The Checkerboard is founded, sparking the beginning of a legacy
The newspaper has evolved over nearly a century, beginning in 1928 with The Checkerboard, quickly followed by The Volette (1946 staff pictured)—named through a student contest—and finally becoming The Pacer in 1971, a nod to the university’s then-athletics nickname. The name The Pacer was retained even after UTM’s mascot changed to the Skyhawk in 1995, with staff emphasizing the paper’s commitment to being a pace-setting, independent voice for students.
Holland McCombs Center—Oldest Building on Campus
Erected in 1929, the Home Economics Building was built to serve as offices and classrooms for the Home Economics Department. In 1987, the building was renamed the Holland McCombs Center and Archives and housed the McCombs archives and the University Museum. Since 1995, when the museum and archives were moved to the newly renovated Paul Meek Library, the McCombs Center has been used to house the University Scholars Program. It is the oldest building on campus.
Paul Meek Serves UTJC as Chief Executive
Born and raised in Weakley County, nobody did more for the success of the university than Paul Meek. He came to UTJC in 1934 to serve as Chief Executive after the departure of Calvin Porter Claxton. Meek led the school through the challenges of the Great Depression, the uncertainties of World War II, and the rapid growth of the 1950s and 1960s. In recognition of his extraordinary service, the institution honored him by naming its newly constructed library after him in 1968.
UTJC Becomes the University of Tennessee Martin Branch (UTMB)
House Bill 264 was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Gordon Browning (whose 1950 visit is pictured), granting the school the authority to offer four-year degrees in agriculture and home economics. This marked its official designation as a university and led to its renaming as the University of Tennessee Martin Branch (UTMB).
Business Administration Building Constructed as New Men’s Residence Hall
Constructed to meet the growing demand for student housing after World War II, a new men’s residence hall was built with space for 150 students. It also featured the Student Recreation Center, popularly known as “the Wagon Wheel.” On December 5, 1966, the building was officially named Browning Hall in tribute to Governor Gordon Browning. From 1967 to 1973, it operated as a co-ed dormitory, housing both male and female students. In 1975, the hall was converted into office and classroom space, and by 1990, it was renamed the Business Administration Building, now home to the College of Business and Public Affairs.
UTMB Officially Becomes UT Martin
House Bill 264 was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Gordon Browning (whose 1950 visit is pictured), granting the school the authority to offer four-year degrees in agriculture and home economics. This marked its official designation as a university and led to its renaming as the University of Tennessee Martin Branch (UTMB).
Bettye Giles Co-founds the Tennessee College Women’s Sports Federation
The Tennessee College Women’s Sports Federation helped lay the foundation for Title IX, the law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. Giles became UTM’s first and only director of women’s athletics, serving until 1994 and leaving an enduring legacy. Honored in multiple Halls of Fame, her name is now etched on the university’s softball field and a female athlete award, recognizing her lifelong dedication to advancing women’s sports.
UTM’s First Intercollegiate Women’s Basketball Team
From 1969–78 Nadine Gearin served as the coach of UTM’s first intercollegiate women’s basketball team, playing a pivotal role in establishing the UTM as a trailblazer in women’s athletics. Under her leadership, the team won the 1970–71 Tennessee College Women’s Sports Federation title and secured three Western Division championships. From 1970 to 1974, she coached the legendary Hall of Fame coach Pat Head Summitt in both basketball and volleyball.
First Rodeo Held
The university launched its rodeo program just a year earlier, in 1968, which has since evolved into Tennessee’s only collegiate rodeo team—a proud tradition that endures to this day. It all started with a modest $600, raised by selling a Shetland pony, and a deep-rooted passion for rodeo. In 1973, UT Martin joined the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA), and the following year, they made history as the first team east of the Mississippi River to qualify for the NIRA National Finals.
UTM Hires First African-American Administrator
Rev. Harold Conner Sr. made history as the first African-American administrator hired at UTM. Beloved by students, he initially served as Assistant Dean of Students before advancing to Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. During his tenure, Conner played a key role in founding the Black Student Association (BSA) and Freshman Studies.
Pat Head (Summitt) Attends UT Martin
Pat Head (Summitt) earned All-American honors while playing under UTM’s first women’s basketball coach, Nadine Gearin. She later co-captained the United States women’s national basketball team at the inaugural women’s tournament in the 1976 Summer Olympics, where she helped secure a silver medal. In 1984, she made history by coaching the U.S. women’s team to Olympic gold, becoming the first U.S. Olympian to both win a basketball medal as a player and coach a medal-winning team. Shortly after earning her degree in physical education from UTM, she was appointed head coach of the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team. Over 38 seasons, Summitt led the Lady Vols to eight NCAA Division I championships and retired with 1,098 wins—the most in college basketball history at the time of her retirement.
Pacer Pete Makes His Debut
In 1971, the university sought to establish a new identity to differentiate itself from UT Knoxville. Several names were considered, including Takers, Cobras, Pioneers, Pacers, Commanders, and, interestingly, Hawks. After conducting a student poll, “Pacers” was chosen, and a decade later, the first mascot characters were introduced.
Dr. Margaret N. Perry Becomes First Female Chancellor
Dr. Margaret N. Perry served as the sixth chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1986 to 1997 and was the first woman in an executive role within the UT system and at any four-year public university in Tennessee. She guided UTM through late-1980s financial challenges and 1990s expansion, overseeing campus improvements, academic growth, Division I athletics, and the Skyhawks mascot rebranding.
UT Martin Achieves NCAA Division I Status
With quiet determination and a unified campus effort, UT Martin achieved NCAA Division I status and joined the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 1992. The milestone solidified UT Martin’s place among regional athletic peers and marked a new era in Skyhawk sports.
Captain Skyhawks Becomes New School Mascot
UTM adopted the Skyhawks as their official mascot, selecting the name from several options to reflect key aspects of the university’s history. The Skyhawk name connects to UTM’s past in three distinct ways: First, the original institution on the site, Hall-Moody Bible Institute, had athletic teams known as the “sky pilots”—a term once used to describe preachers, though students may also have been inspired by World War I flying aces. Second, during World War II, UT Junior College partnered with the Naval War Training Service to train pilots, with flight instruction taking place at an airport now occupied by Westview High School. Finally, the red-tailed hawk, a bird native to West Tennessee, provides a natural and regional tie to the Skyhawk identity.
UT Martin’s Selmer Regional Center Opens
The University of Tennessee at Martin has extended its reach across West and Middle Tennessee through a growing network of regional centers that bring higher education closer to home. The first center opened in 1998 in Selmer, thanks to a local partnership that included scholarship support and a commitment to workforce development. Since then, centers have been established in Parsons, Ripley, Jackson, Somerville, and most recently, Springfield.
Centennial Celebration and Time Capsule
On August 30, 2001, UTM concluded its yearlong centennial celebration with a formal ceremony, burying a time capsule in Centennial Court, located in the campus quadrangle. The capsule is scheduled to be unearthed during the University’s sesquicentennial celebration. Inside the capsule are items representing campus life at the time.
First Quad City at UT Martin’s Homecoming
Quad City debuted as a new centerpiece of UT Martin’s Homecoming, designed to bring alumni, students and the campus community together in the heart of the quad. While the introduction of Quad City marked the end of the traditional Homecoming parade—a beloved tradition dating back to UT Martin’s junior college era—it offered a fresh, interactive experience with organization tents, live music, family activities and opportunities for alumni to reconnect across generations.
UTM Men’s Rodeo Wins First National Championship Title
In June 2014, UTM’s men’s rodeo team made history by winning the university’s first national championship at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. The Skyhawks scored 755 points to top a 56-team field, becoming the first collegiate rodeo team east of the Mississippi River to claim the title.
Panhellenic Sorority Village
More than five decades after Panhellenic sororities arrived at UTM, four chapters—Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, and Zeta Tau Alpha—celebrated the dedication of Sorority Village on April 28, 2017. The project began with a 2013 Homecoming groundbreaking attended by over 500 people. Each sorority contributed nearly $500,000 to build a 3,800-square-foot lodge near University Courts, replacing older Grove Apartment lodges. Alumni and campus leaders praised the project’s significance.
COVID-19 Pandemic Shifts Classes Online
In March 2020, UTM shifted all classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sent residential students home, and canceled large events. Virtual learning continued through summer as leaders planned for fall, weighing online, hybrid, and in-person options. A virtual commencement on May 2 honored over 700 graduates via Facebook and YouTube. In-person classes resumed gradually through 2022, guided by CDC protocols.
Latimer-Smith Building Dedication Ceremony
The new $65 million, 120,000-square-foot, three-story building is situated along the quadrangle near the Business Administration Building. A $6.5 million gift from Union City’s Bill and Carol Latimer provided the 10% match required by the state for construction of the state-of-the-art facility. Ground was officially broken Sept. 18, 2020, and the building opened for classes in Spring 2023. The Latimer-Smith Building houses the departments of chemistry and physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics, and the pre-professional health sciences program. The building features classrooms, laboratories, offices, and a small observatory, and was the university’s first new academic building in 40 years.
Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr. Becomes University’s First Black Chancellor
Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr. became the 12th chancellor of the UTM on August 9, 2023, and the university’s first Black chancellor. A Memphis native and first-generation college graduate, Freeman previously served as vice chancellor at UT Chattanooga. At UTM, he has overseen major growth, including a nearly 10% Spring 2025 enrollment increase and a record 91.7% retention rate. He led the 2025–2030 strategic plan and launched the $18.5 million TEST Hub. In April 2025, $57.5 million was approved for a new business building. Freeman champions access and innovation across West Tennessee.
Skyhawk Luminaries
UT Martin has been led by a series of distinguished chancellors who have each contributed to the institution’s growth and development.
C. Porter Claxton
Served 1927–1934
C. Porter Claxton was born on April 23, 1898, in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Philander Priestly Claxton, a noted Tennessee educator, and Anne Elizabeth Porter. Claxton served as executive officer of the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1927 to 1934 and died on August 20, 1963.
(William) Paul Meek
Served 1934–1967
(William) Paul Meek was born on February 9, 1897, in Martin, Tennessee, to Felix McCrager Meek and Charlotte Temperance Atkinson. From 1934 to 1967, he held key leadership roles at UTM—including executive officer, dean, UT vice president, and chancellor. He died on November 2, 1972.
Archie R. Dykes
Served 1967–1971
Archie R. Dykes was born on January 20, 1931, in Rogersville, Tennessee, to Claude Reed Dykes and Rose Quillen. He served as the third chancellor of University of Tennessee at Martin from 1967 to 1971, following Dr. Paul Meek’s retirement.
Larry Thomas McGehee
Served 1971–1979
Larry Thomas McGehee (right) was born on May 18, 1936, in Paris, Tennessee, to George Eugene McGehee and Margaret Elizabeth Thomas. McGehee succeeded Dykes and served as chancellor of University of Tennessee at Martin from 1971 to 1979. McGehee died on October 25, 2008, at his home in Spartanburg at the age of 72.
Charles E. Smith
Served 1980–1985
Charles E. Smith, a native of White County, Tennessee, was the son of Cecil Edward Smith and Christine S. Newsome. He served as the fifth chancellor of UTM from 1980 to 1985, leaving the role to become vice president of the University of Tennessee System.
Margaret N. Perry
Served 1986–1997
Margaret N. Perry, born April 23, 1940, in Waynesboro, Tennessee, became UTM’s sixth chancellor in 1986, serving until 1997. She was the first UTM alumna to hold the position and the first woman to serve as chancellor or president of any public university in Tennessee.
Philip W. Conn
Served 1998–2000
Philip W. Conn, born on January 4, 1942, in Decatur, Alabama, later relocated to Cleveland, Tennessee. He served as the seventh chancellor of the UTM from 1998 to 2000.
Nick Dunagan
Served 2001–2007
Nick Dunagan, a Caruthersville, Missouri native and 1968 UTM graduate, was the university’s eighth chancellor from 2001 to 2007. He also held the role of interim chancellor three times (1985–86, 1997–98, 2000–01) and served as executive director of the WestStar Leadership Program, the oldest and largest regional leadership initiative in the state.
Thomas Rakes
Served 2007–2015
Thomas A. Rakes served as UTM’s ninth chancellor from 2007 to 2015, after joining the university in 2002 as vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of educational studies. He was named provost in 2005 and later in 2015 he returned to teaching.
Robert M. Smith
Served 2015–2017
Robert M. Smith, who served as interim chancellor from 2015 to 2017, was named UTM’s 10th chancellor in 2017 and later honored as chancellor emeritus. From 1987 to 1999, Smith was dean of UTM’s School of Arts and Sciences, where he co-founded the WestStar Leadership Program and served as its executive director for a decade.
Keith Carver Jr.
Served 2017–2023
Keith Carver Jr., a native of Frog Jump, Tennessee, began serving as the 11th chancellor of UTM on January 3, 2017, and led the university until 2023. He stepped down to take on the role of senior vice chancellor and senior vice president at the UT Institute of Agriculture.
Yancy Freeman Sr.
Served 2023–Now
Yancy Freeman Sr., who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, became UTM’s 12th chancellor on August 9, 2023, making history as the university’s first black chancellor. Before his appointment, he was vice chancellor for enrollment management and student affairs at UT Chattanooga
Hotel Reservations
Local Lodging Options
- Hampton Inn Martin
- Days Inn
- Meadows Hotel – Fulton
- Sleep Inn/Discovery Park – Union City
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites/Discovery Park – Union City
- Quality Inn – Union City
- Hospitality House – Union City
- Hampton Inn – Milan
- The Lodge at Paris Landing State Park
- Martin Area Airbnbs
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