HALLS – The Old Briar homestead in Lauderdale County serves as the newest landscape for an Everywhere You Look, UT mural. The pastoral farmland and modern farmhouse are owned by Dennis and Martha O’Dell, who hope the mural painted on the property’s barn will share their pride in the University of Tennessee with the community.
This second mural in Lauderdale brings the total number of murals to 72. Located along Tennessee State Highway 180, it is visible to an estimated 1,034 people each day.
Inspired by a lesson from Andy Holt, UT’s 16th president, O’Dell (HSC ’70) has spent many years “bragging” on his university — and the latest Everywhere You Look, UT mural provides another opportunity to do that.
When O’Dell enrolled at UT Health Science Center as a first-year pharmacy student, Holt spoke during his orientation.
“I think he was an advocate for all students and one of the things that he told us, was the one thing that you can do once you graduate, in addition to going out and enjoying a life and a successful career, is to brag on your university. The one request that he made is that you never forget the years spent here and there’s nothing wrong with bragging when it’s all true,” he said. “I try to do that in my own way.”
After graduating, O’Dell remained active in the UTHSC community, serving on various advisory councils and committees, including the Dean’s Advisory Committee. He also spoke to College of Pharmacy students about his career at Walgreens, offering real-world advice and helping connect students with job opportunities.
O’Dell and his wife contribute to UTHSC through an endowed scholarship. The Dennis and Martha O’Dell Scholarship, established in 2005, supports pharmacy students in financial need who come from rural backgrounds.
UT Extension also has recently assisted O’Dell with soil conservation efforts and the construction of water retention structures on the farm. O’Dell said Extension agents are a valuable resource for local farmers.
The property also features a modern farmhouse designed by four UT Knoxville College of Architecture professors. The project emphasized a reinterpretation of historic styles, flexible use of space and cultural sustainability, and it was featured in the UT System alumni magazine, formerly known as Tennessee Alumnus, in 2015.
The mural represented another way to host UT on the farm.
The UT System funds the first mural in each county. As the second mural in Lauderdale, O’Dell donated funds for this mural to visibly remind people that the impact of UT is felt every day in rural Tennessee.
“The University of Tennessee is committed to preparing students of all ages with a top-notch college education that will serve them well for life,” O’Dell said.
Reflecting on his life, O’Dell credits UTHSC with opening doors and helping him more clearly see opportunities he would have never otherwise envisioned. He hopes this mural will inspire others to consider higher education as their pathway to a rewarding career and a life well lived.
To learn more about the second Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Lauderdale County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website.
