University of Tennessee Athletics
LETTERMEN'S WALL DEDICATED
November 18, 2000 | General
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| It was another great moment for the University of Tennessee, one of the best. |
It was the dedication of the Lettermen's Wall in front of the Neyland-Thompson Center on campus before the Kentucky game Nov. 18.
It was cold, but the spirit of University of Tennessee athletics burned brightly in the hearts of all who were there. Lettermen and fans alike crowded the area in front of the entrance to the football complex to help dedicate the Lettermen's Wall.
The wall, which stretches down the sidewalk in front of the Vol football building, is an impressive sight, displaying the names of the people from those early days back in the 1890s and from today who have helped build the Vol athletic tradition.
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| T-Club President Don Bosch spoke about the traditions and the pride in the Orange and White within the Wall. |
Lettermen's T-Club president Don Bosch presided and put the events of the day into proper perspective, looking at the first and last names on the Wall.
"There are two names I want you to think about, "Rend Lauter and Elizabeth Hazelhurst," Bosch said. "They are the first and last names currently on this wall. Rend Lauter's name will never move. Elizabeth Hazelhurst represents what the future of our program is. It is fitting that the last name on this wall is a female athlete because they have become such a big part of our program. They are, in large part, the future of collegiate athletics.
"There are many names to come on this wall and that is one of the purposes for building it. We did not build this to honor ourselves. We did it to honor those who have come before us and to celebrate those who will come after us. This project has been so wonderful because we have seen many people brought back into the family of Lettermen and family of athletes in Knoxville.
"They are people we haven't seen much, who haven't been around, who maybe haven't thought much about the University of Tennessee beyond football or basketball. It has turned out to be the result of the hard work of many people. This is a dream that has come to fruition."
After being introduced as a man who was integral in "making this happen," Athletics Director Doug Dickey praised the work of the T-Club in getting the Wall funded and built.
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| Athletics Director Doug Dickey praised the work of the T-Club in getting the wall funded and built. |
"We've built a lot of things here at the University, all kinds of buildings, but I don't know if anybody's taken more pride in anything we have here than in this Wall, honoring the Lettermen over the years," Dickey said. "It's been put together by your dues-paying organization. You raised the money for this Wall.
"So many people have contributed and we appreciate your support. Most of all, I appreciate the tradition you've put together here at Tennessee. This embellishes that. It's easy to represent our tradition. It's the result of all the hard work you've put into building the tradition. You've set the standard. We are honoring three champions today on the football field and we've won national championships in six different sports.
"Take pride in this wall. I appreciate all the cooperation we get from this group."
Among the speakers at the dedication were T-Club members Gene Moeller, Bob Davis, Gordon Polofsky and Pat Shires, all former Vols from the early 1950s.
"There are four people in our organization who made this happen," Bosch noted. "They all had similar yet different roles." With that each of them came to the podium.
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| Gene Moeller asked all who visited the Wall to "pick up the tradition. Leave a little bit of your spirit there for the future generations." |
"This Wall was a dream of a bunch of us, to dedicate it not only to ourselves, but also to the future," Moeller said. "We wanted to bring some recognition to the people from the early days, the 1890s and 1900s. It is a way for future generations to come and see what their grandfather or great-grandfather accomplished for UT. As you run your fingers over the wall, pick up the tradition. Leave a little bit of your spirit there for the future generations."
Associate Athletics Director Bob Davis said he wasn't' sure the project was ever going to get finished. He noted, with some good humor, that the East side skyboxes and the Lettermen's Wall started about the same time and one was finished in August, the other in November.
"I'm happy to be a part of this and glad to see each of you here today," he said.
One man who really did the hard work was former Vol Gordon Polofsky, who did yeoman-like service in researching many of the names. Bosch noted that, if Polofsky had spent the same amount of time in the librarys stacks as a student, he'd be a doctor now. He praised Mike LaSorsa, Byrl Logan ("our old-timer"), Wendell Anderson and Hal Wantland for their efforts.
"This project has been a great pleasure. I appreciate all the compliments. Without my partner Pat Shires, this wouldn't have happened. I appreciate him."
"It was Pat who really got things kicked off," Bosch said. "If not for him, we wouldn't be here today."
"This was really a labor of love," Shires said. "I started being a Tennessee fan back in 1938, so I know quite a few people by name. I appreciate everyone who contributed and the opportunity to honor Lettermen of all sports across the generations."
All in all, it was a great day for Tennessee athletics. "It's not the physical presence of the Wall that's important. It's the groups of Lettermen we see when the family gets together, the fun the laughter, the good times. If that's the only thing the Wall accomplishes, bringing UT people together, it will be worth it."
With that, the ribbon was cut and the Wall dedicated.
Please go by and see the Wall whenever you are on campus. There's not a day that goes by when you don't see people looking at a name on the Wall, rubbing their fingers over it and honoring some loved one that played at Tennessee. It's a magic moment to see and an event that will be recreated on a daily basis.
The Wall stands in testimony to the Tennessee spirit and tradition. You'll see why when you visit. Make that an integral part of your campus experience.
