FINGER, Tenn. — Thanks to the vision and leadership of Selmer Mayor Sherry Inman, the iconic water tower in McNairy County now proudly bears the 65th “Everywhere You Look, UT” mural.
Visible from all nearby roads and standing 151 feet tall at the corner of U.S. Highway 45 and Finger Leapwood Road, the 150,000-gallon tank is a daily sight for more than 13,600 passersby.
Inman, who serves on the UT Martin Selmer Center Higher Education Advisory Board, played a key role in identifying the site and bringing the mural to life. She first suggested the water tower as a potential mural location and helped facilitate the partnership between the University of Tennessee System and the Selmer Utility Division, which owns the property.
“I’ve seen the mural on other locations before and I just knew that it was going to add a beautiful mural for everybody to see when they come in,” Inman said. “It is just an eye catcher. And what more of an asset to put on a water tower so high so everybody can see — is UT — because I do support UT in every way.”
The Selmer Utility Division, led by Director Justin Coleman, owns and operates the tower and quickly joined in support of the project. The tower, which remains in active operation serving the Selmer community, is the newest addition to the statewide mural campaign, which will place UT’s mark across all 95 counties in Tennessee by 2030. McNairy is the 59th county to join the campaign.
“Everything’s visionary — when you’re driving, you kind of see things you don’t normally see,” Inman said. “I hope people see this mural and start to wonder about what UT Extension is, what UT offers, and maybe it’ll drive interest or enrollment at our Selmer Center or others across the state.”
The mural campaign highlights UT’s mission to serve every Tennessean through education, research and outreach, celebrating the unique connection between the University and the communities it touches. In McNairy County, that connection is exemplified by the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, established through a partnership between the University of Tennessee at Martin, McNairy County and the City of Selmer, which plays a vital role in expanding access to higher education in the region.
Inman emphasized the importance of that local impact. “Our UT location is a place where young people can still be close to home and get their education — so they feel confident to spread their wings and go wherever life takes them,” she said. “I’m honored to be the mayor of the City of Selmer and to have a UT location here. That water tower is going to plant a seed, and let people know that we are a part of UT.”
To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in McNairy County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website.
