Latimer STEM Building groundbreaking ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Latimer Science and Engineering Building was held on September 18, 2020 in the UTM quad. Although the event was closed to the public in accordance with the university’s reopening plan, media presence was welcomed, so we at The Pacer decided to attend and summarize the groundbreaking ceremony for the public who couldn’t make it.

UTM Chancellor Keith Carver was scheduled to give opening and closing remarks, but due to Carver being in quarantine after a close contact with a positive Covid-19 case, Provost Dr. Phil Cavalier filled in. 

“The building will greatly increase the amount of room available for students and faculty to collaborate and conduct research”, said Cavalier. 

“Education is one of the most important ways of breaking the cycle of poverty and I know Mr. Latimer hopes this STEM building will raise the standard of living for those who get their engineering degrees here at UTM.”

UT System President Randy Boyd then spoke about his experiences with Mr. Latimer and thanked the Latimers for their donation. 

Boyd thanked Carver for helping create the vision and dream, along with Engineering Dean Shadow Robbinson and other state leaders.

Boyd also told a story about being a boy scout master at Camp Bucktom, a camp with rundown tents and equipment, and admiring the “Taj Mahal” of boy scout camps, the Latimer camp funded by the Latimer foundation.

“I thought, ‘Why would he invest in a boy scout camp in the middle of the state?’ Because of his strong Christian faith and his belief in youth development, he made that commitment, and I thought, ‘What an inspiration.’,” said Boyd.

Boyd ended by giving a nod to the UTM community. “I want to make a shout out to all of our faculty and staff here at UTM, and our students. These are difficult times, but they’re preserving, they’re showing up and finding ways to make things work.”

Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally briefly thanked the Latimers for their donation and introduced Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. McNally also said this was the worst year he’s experienced in 40 years in state government, stating that Tennessee’s revenue has not been as bad as expected, due to Lee’s leadership.

Lee described the construction of the Latimer STEM Building as being “life changing” for Tennessee. Lee thanked the Latimers for their donation, as well as everyone in the community for their contributions to transforming the campus. 

“It’s the people in the community that really transform it, we can create an environment, but then private sector and citizens have to step in, to do the work of transformation, and you’ve done so, and as a representative for the state of Tennessee we’re deeply grateful for that,” said Lee.

Lee said that he was especially grateful for STEM related education, because it’s a significant part of the future. 

“What happens in rural Tennessee matters to every single Tennessean whether they realize it or not.”

Cavalier then introduced Bill Latimer, who described the process of donating funds to the university with former UTM Chancellor Bob Smith.

Mr. Latimer then brought Smith up to speak, along with his wife Carol. Mr. Latimer spoke about the challenge of accreditation facing the university in the 2015-2016 year. Under Smith’s leadership and with the help of Mr. Latimers matching donation of 10% of private funding the university was placed off of probation in December of 2016.

“Mission Accomplished,” said Mr. Latimer.

Smith resigned as UTM Chancellor in January of 2017, just 19 months after accepting the job as interim chancellor, the problem of accreditation and private funding were solved.

“Carol and I believe that when God has blessed you, that you need to use that to bless others. God has blessed both of us much more than we could ever expect and much more than we ever deserve.”

Following Mr. Latimer’s remarks, he introduced Reverend Jimmy Latimer to lead a prayer for the safety of construction workers, as well as for the safety of the UTM community.

Following Rev. Latimer’s prayer, the physical ground breaking ceremony was underway.