A dedication of the gifts of the official portraits of Chancellor Emeritus Fred Obear, Chancellor Emeritus Bill Stacy, Chancellor Roger Brown, and former UT Trustee Frank Kinser was held in the Lupton Library.
Dr. Fred Obear, Chancellor Emeritus, served UTC in many capacities since his arrival in 1981. Following his retirement in 1997, he continued to work for the campus in development and external relations. During his tenure as chancellor, the campus added academic programs, grew to record enrollment, gained a reputation for academic excellence, and made significant improvements in minority enrollment.
When Chancellor Emeritus Bill Stacy was at UTC, he undertook a construction boom of more than $200 million which included the Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science Building and UTC Place Apartments. The Lupton Renaissance Fund was established in 2001 by a $25 million gift from John and Alice Lupton, and at the time was the largest unrestricted cash donation to public higher education in Tennessee history. The fund has been used to enhance the campus in a variety of ways, including the establishment of the SimCenter, an infusion of instructional technology, and the initiation of doctoral programs on the campus. His accomplishments also included record enrollment, record fund-raising, and the establishment of the campus’ first doctoral programs.
“On a personal note, I can add that since my arrival as chancellor in 2005, Dr. Obear and Dr. Stacy have both served as invaluable mentors and friends,” Chancellor Roger Brown said.
Frank Kinser served the University as both a Trustee on the University of Tennessee Board and the Board of the University of Chattanooga Foundation. During his friendship with UTC, he and his wife Becky have shown a special interest in Mocs Athletics.
“Lending his name to the Porky’s Open Golf Tournament, Mr. Kinser has helped raise more than $100,000 in support for student athlete scholarships,” Brown said.
Artist Jim Pollard created the portraits of Obear and Stacy. Josh Gilreath painted the portrait of Kinser. Gordon Wetmore painted the portrait of Brown.
