CHAPMANSBORO, Tenn. — A family business with deep roots in Cheatham County is now part of the University of Tennessee System’s “Everywhere You Look, UT” mural campaign.
Shearon Construction, a family business operated by Tyler Shearon, has served the county through construction work for decades. The business operates from the Shearon family property, which is also a local farm. Tyler’s father, Gaines, began working in construction more than 30 years ago, and that legacy continues through the next generation.
Now, a 50-foot-wide mural is painted on a former tobacco barn located on the property. The mural will be seen by 9,487 passersby every day.
Tyler learned about the mural campaign through Nick Waynick, a close family friend and UT extension agent for Cheatham County. Tyler said the campaign felt like a natural fit for his business and his family’s love for UT.
“Cheatham County is more than just where our business is located,” he said. “It’s home. I grew up here, and my grandparents, aunts and uncles all live here. We’re proud of where we are from.”
That pride stems in part from the family’s connection to the late University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt. Tyler’s grandfather, Robert Head, and Richard Head, Pat Summitt’s father, were first cousins. He recalls attending Lady Vols games as a child and says the family tie makes the mural feel especially personal.
The barn itself has a story of its own. Once used to smoke dark-fired tobacco, it had fallen into disrepair and was nearly torn down.
“We were getting ready to tear it down, but once this opportunity came along, it just felt right to keep it,” Tyler said.
Cheatham County marks the 70th county in the statewide campaign, which aims to place a mural in all 95 counties in Tennessee to showcase the reach of UT’s impact across the state.
To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Cheatham County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website. Costs of the first mural in each county are covered by the university.
