William B. Stokely, Jr. Foundation Gives $2.5 Million to UT; Creates First Endowed Dean's Chair at UT Knoxville
April 25, 2008
KNOXVILLE – The Stokely family, through the William B. Stokely, Jr. Foundation, has built on a legacy of giving back to the University of Tennessee with a $2.5 million gift to the university, as part of UT's Campaign for Tennessee.
The campaign is a $1 billion fundraising effort that was officially launched on April 17 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The gift adds to an extensive history of support for the arts, athletics and business programs at the university. Most recently, the Stokelys endowed the deanship of the UT Knoxville College of Business Administration (CBA). This is the first such endowed dean's chair on the UT Knoxville campus.
"This chair, the first of its kind for us, represents a very special gift in that it honors the leadership of one of the premier colleges on the Knoxville campus," said UT Knoxville Provost Robert C. Holub. "Simultaneously, it ensures that UT Knoxville will be able to rely on this position to attract outstanding leadership far into the future."
The Stokely family's ties to the UT began with William B. Stokely, Sr., who was captain of the 1894 Tennessee football team. Three William B. Stokelys have followed him to graduate from UT in the years since, making them the only four-generation family who share the same name in university history.
Bill is the chair emeritus of the Campaign for Tennessee, and the Stokelys have been active supporters of UT through a number of key development campaigns. Bill served as the chair of the CBA's Business Administration Capital Campaign and of the university's 21st Century Campaign. He also was corporate co-chair of the Tennessee Tomorrow Campaign, and served as the chair of the Development Council. Bill recently completed a term on the UT Board of Trustees.
Bill's grandfather, William B. Stokely, Sr., also served as a Board of Trustees member. His father, William B. Stokely, Jr., chaired the Development Council and made many gifts to UT, including the gift to establish the Stokely Athletic Center.
Kay Stokely has served as a member of the Board of Visitors in the UT College of Arts and Sciences.
Three of Bill and Kay's four children are UT graduates and all serve on the William B. Stokely, Jr. Foundation Board. Clay Stokely is a current member of the Development Council and William B. Stokely, IV previously served.
"As a family, there has never been a time that we were not engaged in the life of the university in one way or another," said Bill Stokely. "This is a way for us to show our belief in the leadership of UT and the importance of the university to the state of Tennessee."
Bill and Kay Stokely are UT Knoxville graduates in business administration and liberal arts, respectively. Bill chaired Stokely-Van Camp, founded by his family in the 19th century, and oversaw its sale to Quaker Oats. Currently he is chairman of The Stokely Company.
The Campaign for Tennessee -- the most ambitious effort in the university’s 214-year history -- places UT among the ranks of the nation’s largest public and private institutions that have sought this level of private support.
The campaign, which launched its silent phase in 2005, will secure private gifts that, in turn, will contribute substantially to the distinct, but linked, campuses comprised by the University of Tennessee system. Funds raised through the campaign will directly support the objectives of UT's strategic plan, as outlined by UT President John Petersen. Among those objectives are improved student access and success, research and economic development, outreach and globalization.
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Contact:
Jay Mayfield, (865) 974-9409, jay.mayfield@tennessee.edu
Beth Gladden, (865) 974-9008, bgladden@utk.edu
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