Alumni Hall of Fame

Yvonne Ayers is a member of Pi Beta Phi and is a graduate of The University of Tennessee. During her time at the university, she served as a chapter officer, a Rho Chi (Recruitment Counselor now known as a Gamma Chi), and Panhellenic President. Her first year post-graduation, Yvonne served as a graduate consultant for Pi Beta Phi Fraternity Headquarters where she traveled to over 30 chapters in 9 months. After that role, she served as Regional Advisor in the Nashville area for five chapters. Since then, Yvonne has served as Alumnae Club President, Vice President, and Treasurer. She also has served on various committee chairs. Yvonne also has played a significant role in the Christmas Village fundraiser in Nashville, TN that is put on by the Nashville Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club. The event is in its 60th year and has raised almost $13 million for various charities. In addition to all of this, Yvonne has also served on the Alumnae Advisory Committee for the Pi Beta Phi Chapter at Vanderbilt for six years. Yvonne is proud to not only be part of her sorority, but is also proud to be a Tennessee Vol.

Janet is someone who has gone above and beyond in the pursuit of collaboration with the office and advocacy within sorority village housing. To say that she is a true Alpha Delta Pi would be an understatement with the level of involvement she has to over the years to make her chapter and the community a better place. As a member of Sorority Village Association, she worked to advocate for and push forward the master planning and expansion of Sorority Village (established 2012). As President of Alpha Delta Pi House Corporation, she volunteers to serve her chapter in pursuit of living out what it means to be the first and finest. Retiring from this role in 2022, Janet served ADPi for decades to give her chapter and the Panhellenic community a space that was safe and suitable for the values driven work that she believed made the college experience. Outside of her work with ADPI, Janet has held numerous roles as the director of human resources for both the city of Gatlinburg and Farragut.

Tara was initiated into the Pi Epsilon chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., here at the University of Knoxville, as a solo in the fall of 1993, and graduated in 1995. Since being initiated, Tara has remained an active member of her organization, and within the Knoxville community as a member of the Nu Zeta graduate chapter. Tara is a pillar of the community through her volunteerism, support for numerous charities/benefits, and dedication to being present at Nu Zeta chapter events, NPHC events across the Southeast, and University events for alumni, the Black Alumni Council, and the student body. For over four years now, Tara has worked at the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking as an Operations and Community Relationship Coordinator. An extremely involved member of the community, Tara lends her support for many organizations, such as PJ Parkinsons, Girl Talk, Inc, SEEED, the Boys and Girls Club and United Way.  She has participated in benefit fashion shows for Angel Wings Memory Gowns that turn wedding dresses into complimentary burial gowns for babies, Go Red for Women to benefit the American Heart Association, Positively Pink to support the Susan G Komen Foundation. She most recently directed the runway and served as the MUA and model for Couture Opera in support of the Knoxville Opera. Tara’s influence is apparent, as her daughter, Lindsay Davis, who currently works in the University’s Dean of Students Office, is her legacy, having been initiated into the Nu Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Tara is a strong advocate for bridging the gap between communities to serve a greater purpose of spreading unity and positivity. Davis works in fashion and entertainment and is always looking to provide networking opportunities for those around her. Within her chapter, Tara readily offers herself as a resource to assist with the success of the events presented, and her impact has been felt in the UT community, within her sorority, and the greater Knoxville community as well. As an undergraduate, Tara was the first NPHC representative on Panhellenic Council, paving the way for NPHC sororities to have a voice on campus and within Greek Life. According to Pi Epsilon, “as a chapter we know we can lean on Tara not only as alumni but as a sister and mentor, and her consistent involvement on and off campus, whether it is in the name of being a Vol or not, she is the one to step up and get the job done.”

Don Frieson is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and graduated from The University of Tennessee in 1990 where he studied Operations Management. Originally from Memphis, TN, Don first attended the university to study engineering and later transferred to the College of Business. Post-graduation, Don began his career with Kroger and worked in management for 12 years with Schneider National Carriers. In 1999, Don joined the Walmart company where he would later be named Senior Vice President in 2007 for the Central Division. In addition to his career successes, Don is active in the community where has served as a member of the Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Advisory Board at the University. Don is also honored with being half of the namesake of the Frieson Black Cultural Center, sharing the buildings name with his brother Ron.

Ron Frieson is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and graduated from The University of Tennessee in 1981 with a degree in Finance. After graduation, Ron would begin a substantial career at BellSouth. He later became the operations manager and eventually the Vice President of the company. He expanded advertising efforts internationally in Latin America and directed the online Yellow Pages effort. In 1999, Ron joined the consumer services division and later became the company’s first Chief Diversity Officer in 2001. Under his direction, BellSouth became a main sponsor of a Gay Pride Parade, formed “networking groups” based on race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation, and extended insurance benefits to same-sex couples. Later in his career, he became interim president of the Atlanta Urban League and later served as Senior Vice President for External Affairs at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Ron is also honored with being half of the namesake of the Frieson Black Cultural Center, sharing the buildings name with his brother Don.

Ann Baker Furrow is a member of Alpha Delta Pi and graduated from The University of Tennessee is 1967. She was the first woman to play on a men’s varsity sport team at the University, playing on the men’s golf team from 1964 to 1965. In addition to this, she was the first woman to give a commencement speech at the University in 1971, and was also the first woman to serve on the UT Board of Trustees. Following her graduation from the university, Ann had a successful golf career, becoming the 1978 Women’s Southern Amateur Champion and is a member of the Tennessee, the Greater Knoxville, and the Blount sports halls of fame. She has served on board for UT Athletics, Covenant Health, Fort Sanders Foundation, Tennessee Valley Authority, and is a founding board member of Spiritual Heritage Knoxville. Ann Baker Furrow Boulevard in Sorority Village was named in honor of Ann in 2012.

Born in Roane County, TN in 1941, Sam Furrow is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Repperts School of Auctioneering and the Certified Auctioneers Institute of Indiana University. In addition to his commitment to education, Sam has shown consistent dedication to multiple organizations and volunteers often. He has served on the board of directors for Leadership Knoxville and the Knoxville Zoo. He is also very active in the Beck Cultural Center, the Boy Scouts of America, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Knoxville, and the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Knoxville. He has also been honored by the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service and The National Conference of Christians and Jews for his volunteerism. In addition to this, he has been recognized nationally by his fraternal headquarters. He was awarded the Raymond L. Gardner Alumnus of the Year Award in 1992 and has been involved with the Tennessee Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta as a chapter advisor, Province President, Alumni Club President, and Phi Delta Theta’s Board of Trustees.

A 1987 graduate of the University of Tennessee and a Brentwood, TN native, Shannon is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and served as Intramurals and Standards Chairman and a Rho Chi while at UT. Hampson has served on the Alpha Epsilon chapter Housing Corporation board since 2008, serving as President, only taking a short break while her daughter followed her footsteps into UTK and Kappa Delta in 2014. Since 2009, the Alpha Epsilon House Corporation has been recognized in the top 10% of all Kappa Delta house corporations at the national convention. A driving force in fundraising for Kappa Delta in Sorority Village, Shannon successfully raised over $1,000,000 in funds, which resulted in AE winning the top House Corporation Award of Excellence in 2013. Hampson is no stranger to winning awards, as she also was awarded the Order of the Emerald – a recognition only given to alumnae who have displayed extraordinary service to Kappa Delta at the local, state, or national level.  In addition, she was also appointed to and has served the National Leadership Team for Kappa Delta Headquarters as a Chapter Housing Specialist since 2015. Beyond her sorority involvement, Shannon has served on the UTK Alumni Board, the Board of Directors for Knoxville Leadership Foundation, Leadership Knoxville Class of 2010, and President of GKAISA. She has worked for Abercrombie Radiology for the past 33 years as their CEO and actively involved in the medical community by previously serving as the President of Knoxville Area Medical Group Management, a founding member and President of Tennessee Radiology Business Management Association, and nationally as the Southern Director for the Radiology Business Management Association. Shannon is not only respected but is cherished as an alumna of Kappa Delta’s Alpha Epsilon Chapter as her nominees raved about her passion, dedication, service, support, and sisterhood.

Clay Jones, a 1971 graduate of Tennessee and the 122^nd initiated brother of the Tennessee Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta, is the former chairman and CEO of Rockwell Collins Inc. and president of the UT Alumni Board of Directors. As a student, Clay received UT’s highest undergraduate honor by being named a Torchbearer as he graduated with a degree in political science. He then served for eight years as a fighter pilot in the US Air Force and then began his thirty-four-year career with Rockwell International. In 1982, he served a fellowship in the White House Executive Exchange program, where he was assigned to the Environmental Protection Agency. As active supports of UT’s Center for Leadership and Service, on April 12, 2019, the Center for Leadership and Service was named in honor of Clay and his wife, Debbie Jones, in recognition and appreciation of their landmark $5 million gift to the center to enhance programs and initiatives offered to students, specifically Ignite, Emerging Leaders, Clifton Strengths, and the Volunteer Impact Academy. The Jones have been long-time supporters of these programs, giving their initial $1 million to the endowment in 2009 to what was then known as the Office of Student Orientation and Leadership Development before the Center for Leadership and Service was established in 2012. In 2023, the Jones pledged another $5 million to the JCLS endowment, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the development of the next generation of leaders. Clay and Debbie have been incredibly generous in their support of students pursing leadership development opportunities. In 2015, they committed $126,000 to support the establishment of the Leadership Studies Minor, a collaborative partnership between the Division of Student Life and the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. The pair also helped establish the Torchbearer 2000 Endowment, which supports students involved in activities and community service at the university. Jones has attributed much of his success to his leadership development at UT, including involvement in Phi Delta Theta, the Student Government Association, and the Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 2014, Clay was awarded UT’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2019, he gave a commencement address where he urged graduates to lead through service, defining success not as “title, wealth, and power,” but as acts of selflessness. “Helping others, caring for those less fortunate, giving back, and empowering teammates—that is what success should look like, and that is what Volunteers do.”

Jim, a member of the Delta Delta chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, is a dedicated volunteer who has worked tirelessly to advance fraternity & sorority life locally, regionally, and nationally for decades. He earned a Bachelor’s in Behavioral science, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Education Specialist Degree, concentrating in organizational development from East Tennessee State University, and pursued additional coursework through Executive Leadership programs at Indiana University and the University of Tennessee. Focusing his professional career on leadership and organizational development and training, Jim worked as a Mid-Atlantic divisional manager at Sola Barnes Hind, Inc., Director for Sales Training and Management Development for North America for Pilkington Barnes Hind, Inc., Director for Training and Organization Development for North and South America for Wesley Jessen Corporation, and the Vice President of Professional Development for The Transition Team, Inc. His professional career also tied into his ability to give back to the fraternal movement as he served Kappa Alpha Order as Regional Vice President for two tenures, totaling 26 years of service. He was one of five alumni elected to KA’s national board of directors and worked as the director for Fraternity Affairs here at UTK, a chapter advisor for the Pi chapter of Kappa Alpha at Tennessee, and still serves as president of the 20^th Street House Corporation. In 2014, Jim was the OSFL’s Fraternity Advisor of the Year after his involvement in the chapter’s re-chartering in 2006 and his work with the chapter eight years thereafter. Most impressively, Jim is one of 251 Kappa Alpha brothers (out of 180,000+ lifetime members in 2023) to be awarded the Knight Commander’s Accolade, which recognizes excellence in leadership and service to the Order; Jim received this award in 1997 and continued to serve KA as the Regional Vice President from 2000-2015, and as the local chapter and housing advisor. In 2015 the National Fraternity selected Jim to direct and train the undergraduate model initiation team that performed at the 76^th Kappa Alpha National Convention, celebrating the Order’s 150^th years founding. Jim is a fierce advocate for the fraternity and sorority movement as it is a pivotal and paramount piece of the college experience, and it can positively impact one’s post-graduate life through relationships and the ability to give back to your community.

A 1984 graduate of Tennessee, Ellen has gone out of her way to be the best sister she can be since she joined the Alpha Kappa chapter of Alpha Delta Pi. Nominated by sisters from when she was in college to members who are still active in the chapter, she lifts sisters up when they are down, she picks sisters up when they have fallen, she leads by example, and continues to always be the rock – the heart and soul – of the chapter. Ellen is a second-generation legacy of Alpha Kappa, and she has always had an involvement in her collegian sisters, alumnae, and advocating for our chapter at Tennessee. She has been the Executive Chapter Advisor for over twenty years. According to a nominator, “whether it is leading an Executive Board of twenty-four collegians and alumnae, managing over 400 members, answering phone calls and emails from our Executive Committee, to simply managing her work and family life, Ellen does it all in such a calm, caring manner.” Ellen is the Public Relations Manager at the Dollywood Company, works for the Vol Network at football games and Lady Vols basketball games, involved with the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), was an adjunct professor in Communications at Tennessee for 4 years, served as the Community Relations Director for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for 13 years, serves as a features editor for Alpha Delta Pi’s magazine the Adelphean since 1986. Ellen’s guidance has contributed to the ultimate success of the organization, and most recently Ellen co-chaired Alpha Delta Pi’s Centennial Celebration with pledge sister Mimi Moran, which they spent nearly ten years planning. Her dedication and details to help celebrate this historic event was truly such a joy for the chapter members to witness as Alpha Kappa alumni and international Alpha Delta Pi members came to celebrate the historic event. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the hundredth-year celebration in 2020, Ellen was a beacon of positivity and flexibility for her chapter and other advisors on campus.

Tom, a member of Lambda Chi Alpha has been described by his nominators as “a man imbued with the belief in the traditions, principles, and ideals of Lambda Chi Alpha.” Tom has given back to Tennessee and the organization in many ways over the last 35 years, serving as an advisor for the chapter and house corporation. Tom is a 1988 University of Tennessee, Knoxville graduate. He is the owner of Big Orange Professional Photography which services many chapters, universities, and athletic programs across the southeast. In 2021, when the Epsilon-Omicron chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha started their re-expansion to Rocky Top, Tom was one of the most dedicated volunteers to ensure the success of the chapter returning to campus. Looking back, the chapter credits much of their success in re-chartering to Tom, as he assisted the men in growth from 0 active brothers to over 100 in under a year. His diligent work lead to the fastest re-charting in Lambda Chi Alpha history. In 2022, Tom was given the highest honor that an alumni member of Lambda Chi Alpha can receive, the Order of Merit, recognizing unusual, lengthy, and dedicated service to a local chapter. He is one of five members of the Epsilon-Omicron chapter, the only living alumni, to be awarded this honor.

Charlie Morgan joined Phi Sigma Kappa in the fall of 1967, the first fall that Fraternity Park was officially open.  Since graduating from UT in 1971, Charlie has been an active volunteer both with the University and with Phi Sigma Kappa.  Charlie has served on the Phi Sigma Kappa Alumni Board since 1973 and has held every position possible from Treasurer to currently serving as President and helped to rebuild the house after structural damage in the 1990’s.  Charlie has also served in volunteer roles for the University’s Board of Governors and on the Board for the Faculty Club.  Charlie currently serves as President of Gray Hodges, a local plumbing and cabinet distributing company and has been with the company for 35 years.  Charlie credits his success in learning how to run a business from his time in the fraternity and states that he would not be where he is today without the social and organization management skills he has learned throughout his membership with Phi Sigma Kappa.  Fun fact about Charlie, he has only missed one home football game in Neyland Stadium since 1967.  Now that’s a Vol for Life!

Bert Sams is a member of Alpha Tau Omega and has been involved in the chapter for over 50 years. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees to the Pi Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega for over 30 thirty years. He was initiated into the fraternity in 1965 and graduated from The University of Tennessee in 1967. After graduating, Bert stayed close to home and connected with the fraternity and sorority community at The University of Tennessee. After working at the university for 30 years, he retired in 1999 as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. After retirement, Bert took this opportunity to remain involved within Alpha Tau Omega. He began serving as a chapter advisor and also served in many various leadership capacities with Alpha Tau Omega headquarters. He also helped the Pi Chapter set up the Brad Whittington Memorial Scholarship Fund that is administered by the Alpha Tau Omega Foundation. In honor of this and all of his contributions, the Pi Chapter created a scholarship award in Berts honor; the Bert Sams Man of the Year Award. Outside of his fraternal duties, Bert is involved in Habitat for Humanity, his church, and Friends of the Library.

As a collegiate member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Charlie supported recruitment efforts that brought in one of the largest new member classes for the Tennessee Kappa chapter. Upon graduation, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and accepted a commission as a Lieutenant in the United States Army where he was awarded for exemplary service and bravery with the Air Medal, Bronze Star, and Bronze Star for Valor. Dubbed the “Ad Man” by Knox News in 2012, Tombras has seen his agency win 3 national Addy awards – beating out companies and agencies like Nike, Coke, and Pepsi to name a few. Charlie recently designated the first named college – the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations serving students within the College of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Daniel C. Wheeler was born in Crab Orchard, Tennessee in 1942. He is a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and was initiated in 1962 into the Alpha Kappa Chapter. Daniel graduated from The University in 1964 with a bachelors in Agriculture. Although Daniel was only an undergraduate member of his chapter for two years, he served as the intramural chairman, recruitment chair, house manager, and secretary. After graduation, he worked as an insurance and field agent with Farm Bureau for 29 years where he eventually served as Chief Administrative Officer. Daniel was also named “Man of the Year” by Progressive Farmer Magazine. After his term ended with Farm Bureau, Daniel became the director of the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture, later becoming President. He has also been honored by his fraternal headquarters as one of their “Brothers of the Century”.