A new Everywhere You Look ,UT mural on a barn at Solitude Farm in Hamblen County, celebrates the legacy of the late Vernon Kyle Hale Jr. (Knoxville ’81), a lifelong Tennessean dedicated to advocating for agriculture, education and his community.

Hale Jr., a proud farmer and devoted community member, passed away in December 2023. After earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science from UT Knoxville, he returned home to manage the family farm. His wife, Kay Hale (Knoxville ’81), also graduated from UT Knoxville, earning a bachelor’s degree in public health.

The two met while attending UT Knoxville and remained connected to their alma mater throughout their lives.

“What Kyle learned at UT impacted how he worked here on the farm, but also how he helped others,” said Kay, who explained how they often hosted field trips for local schools, educating as many children as they could. “We came back to our community and shared what we learned with lots of other people,” Kay said.

Over the years, the couple worked closely with UT Extension, volunteering at 4-H events, leading state extension committees and helping to launch the youth dairy show in Hamblen County. Hale Jr. also served on multiple boards and organizations, including the Hamblen County Planning Commission, Holston Electric and Dairy Farmers of America.

Following Hale Jr.’s passing, Kay contacted Hamblen County Extension Agent Mannie Bedwell to express interest in hosting a mural in Hale Jr.’s honor. The request came after a fire destroyed Hamblen County’s first UT mural, which the couple had long admired.

“We jumped on it,” Kay said. “Even though my husband has passed away, I know this is something he wanted desperately,” she said.

Bedwell expressed hope that the mural will remind people that “the whole state of Tennessee is UT’s classroom.”

The Hale family has deep ties with UT, spanning three generations.

It began with Hale Jr.’s father, Vernon Kyle Hale Sr., who, despite receiving a scholarship to attend UT, remained on the family farm to support his mother and four siblings after his father passed away. Though he was unable to attend, Hale Sr. and his wife Annis (Knoxville ’42) remained dedicated supporters of UT for more than four decades before their passing. Their four sons — Tom (Knoxville ’69), Sam (Knoxville ’72), Steve (Knoxville ’74, ’87) and Kyle (Knoxville ’81) — all graduated from UTK, and many of their children have also joined the UT alumni family.

Kay’s family also shares a rich legacy with the University.

Her father, Dr. Oscar McCallum (Knoxville ’51, UTHSC ’52), co-founded the UT Family Practice Center in Jackson, Tennessee, and remained a lifelong advocate and supporter of the University, as did his wife, Anne McCallum (UTHSC ’53). Kay’s brother, Dr. Lee McCallum (UTHSC ’85), continued the family tradition, completing a portion of his medical residency at the UT Family Practice Center that his father helped establish.

Kay hopes the mural will help others “learn about UT and the services that UT has. I would love it if this mural spurred someone to go to school to start or finish their college education.”

Located on Fish Hatchery Road in Russellville, Solitude Farm has an average of 2,828 passersby daily. The mural, painted by Troy Freeman of Free Sky Studios, marks county No. 56 in the Everywhere You Look, UT campaign. This campaign aims to add a mural in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties by 2030. Since its launch in 2018, the campaign has created 62 total murals across the state. The University covers the cost of the first mural in each county.

To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Hamblen County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website.

The UT System provided information and quotes for this story.