SAVANNAH, Tenn. — A property that has belonged to one Hardin County family for centuries now celebrates another longstanding connection: its owners’ support for the University of Tennessee and its impact across the state.
The property, which once housed Willoughby Grocery, opened by Donna Lutrell’s grandfather in 1948, is now home to the state’s 78th “Everywhere You Look, UT” mural. The installation brings the campaign to its 71st county, with a goal of placing a mural in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties by 2030.
Donna and Chris Lutrell learned about the campaign through their daughter, Cassie, who spotted murals in neighboring counties and researched how to bring one to Hardin County. The family applied and was selected to host a mural at the highly visible intersection of Tennessee highways 226 and 203, also known as Airport Road. An estimated 3,062 cars a day will see the 40-foot-wide mural completed Oct. 24.
“We just feel very blessed and fortunate that we were picked to put a mural on our little corner of our world out here,” Donna said.
The family’s connection to the property stretches back to the late 1700s, when Donna’s great-great-great-grandfather owned land in the area. The property passed down through generations, and her grandfather, Lon Willoughby, built Willoughby Grocery in 1948. The store served as a gathering place where community members shopped, played dominoes and cards, and played baseball on a field behind the building.
The Lutrells purchased a family home on the property in 1983 and continue to live near relatives on land that has remained closely tied to their family.
Their connection to UT extends beyond their support for the university’s athletic teams. Chris has been involved with the UT Extension office in Hardin County since his youth and later reconnected with the office through the Master Beef program. Through UT Extension, he has received guidance and education to support his work with cattle.
“Jared Strickland, matter of fact, I’ve talked to him this morning,” Chris said of the local extension agent. “He’s been a tremendous help to me in the last, I don’t know, five to eight years just dealing with this Master Beef program.”
The family said that connection to UT Extension, along with seeing the campaign’s murals on other properties, helped inspire them to participate. They chose the former store building because its location draws attention from drivers traveling through the area.
The mural already has generated positive feedback from residents and visitors. The family hopes the installation will continue to brighten the community and introduce more people to the campaign.
For the Lutrells, the mural also reflects the connections people share through UT across Tennessee. Although no one in their immediate family attended a UT campus, they know students and alumni throughout the state and have seen how the university reaches communities far beyond its campuses.
Chris said he often wears orange when traveling and enjoys hearing a familiar “Go Vols!” from fellow fans, whether he is in Tennessee or elsewhere.
To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Hardin County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website.
