Manchester

Coffee County Mayor Dennis Hunt couldn’t think of a more fitting place for a UT mural than the side of his own business — a cranes and excavations company located just off Exit 114 on Interstate 24.

The mural, currently being painted, is the 67th in the campaign. Coffee County is the 61st county to participate. Once completed, it will be visible to more than 53,000 drivers each day and serve as a bold reminder of the university’s far-reaching impact across the state.

“I hope it inspires some realization of the impact that the state of Tennessee, in conjunction with the University of Tennessee, has on the United States as a nation,” Hunt said.

Born and raised in rural Tennessee, Hunt has long witnessed UT’s influence in communities like his.

“UT is an icon, I’ll put it that way,” Hunt said. “University of Tennessee is the icon that represents the state of Tennessee nationwide, and it’s because of the very successful sports program that University of Tennessee has and also the fact that the University of Tennessee turns out some highly educated individuals in multiple fields, one of which I’m so proud of is the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture.”

Hunt saw firsthand the vital role UTIA played in supporting communities like his. As an elected official, supporting rural areas remains a priority — and he understands the university’s ongoing contribution to his county through his work in government.

“We have the County Technical Assistance Service, University of Tennessee Division of Forestry, UT Agricultural Extension Office and University of Tennessee Space Institute — all of which work with people here daily,” he said.

These organizations, he said, play an essential role in the success of Tennessee’s communities by giving back and providing local support.

Hunt knew he wanted an Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Coffee County. When discussing locations, the vast numbers of passersby made his business an ideal location. To him, hosting the mural on his business is an honor.

“I was very happy to volunteer my premises to allow this mural to be placed,” Hunt said. “I hope that it brings a lot of attention to the University of Tennessee that may not otherwise happen.”

Hunt said the 14-foot-wide mural reflects how deeply UT is woven into Tennessee’s landscape and economy.

“Everywhere you look when you’re driving down the interstate, much of the areas you see, the largest industry in the state of Tennessee is agriculture. Everywhere you look, you’re going to see corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, cattle. University of Tennessee is in that. They represent the ag community. They represent the industrial. They represent commercial. Just everywhere you are, UT’s got a little hand in it somewhere or another, and a lot of what you see, they have a big hand in it,” Hunt said.