The University of Tennessee System will soon be one step closer to its goal of painting “Everywhere You Look, UT” murals in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties as painting on the 31st mural begins today in Warren County.
Martin Glenn Glass in McMinnville, owned by Kallye and Justin Randolph, is the site of the newest mural in UT’s statewide campaign. Justin’s father bought the business in 1993, and today it has been in the Randolph family for 30 years. When completed, the 40-foot-wide mural on the family’s landmark building will be visible to the 6,725 travelers passing through downtown McMinnville each day.
“Ninety percent of the traffic that comes downtown has to pass by our building one way or the other,” Kallye said. “So, it really is the perfect spot to showcase UT’s impact in our community.
Kelvin Douglas, a member of the McMinnville Leadership Program and a friend of the Randolphs, mentioned the campaign to Justin while visiting the downtown McMinnville business one day.
“As soon as my husband told me, I quickly got on it,” Kallye said. “We love UT, and we wanted that mural to be on our building.”
“I hope it inspires everyone to continue to work hard in their lives—young and old.” she added. “And I really just hope that it helps people come together.”
That’s something Kallye has witnessed UT doing her whole life: that bringing together of people, whether it’s bonding over UT athletics with her own father or striking up conversations with strangers and finding common ground in the University.
“‘Everywhere You Look, UT’ just makes me think of Tennesseans,” Kallye said. “Sometimes today it feels like everything is trying to tear everyone apart. But when you have a conversation with a fellow Tennessean about UT, by the end of it you’ve made a friend.”
Neither Kallye nor Justin attended a UT System university, but that hasn’t stopped them from being advocates. Their three children, ages 12 to 14, are testaments to that.
“Our kids could spell Vols before they could ever spell cat or dog,” Kallye joked.
When there is a favorite team day for spirit week at their schools, all three don their UT gear—and not just for athletic pride. Their youngest son Walker hopes to one day play for UT Knoxville’s Pride of the Southland Band, while their other son Easton—who will one day take over the family business—hopes to attend UT Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business. Their daughter Mallory also hopes to attend UT Knoxville’s College of Architecture and Design.
To learn more about the UT campaign, each location and to nominate a canvas for use, visit the mural campaign website. UT plans to paint one mural in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties by 2030.
Contacts
Melissa Tindellmailto:mtindell@tennessee.edu
865-974-0741
505 Summer Place, UT Tower #1236, Knoxville, TN 37902