University of Tennessee at Chattanooga benefactor Zan Guerry is one of 12 recipients of the 2009 Southern Conference Distinguished Service Award.
Each member institution selects an honoree based on that person's contribution to the institution. Each award winner will be honored for their contributions at the Southern Conference awards dinner in Hilton Head, S.C., on May 27, 2009.
An avid tennis player and former collegiate All-American at Rice, Guerry's generosity has allowed for major advancements within the UTC Athletics Department. A one-time assistant tennis coach at UTC, Guerry currently donates back the small salary he made as an annual gift to the University.
His most recent impact on the Mocs is the completion of the Chattem Basketball Practice Facility. Guerry, the CEO of Chattem, Inc, recently orchestrated a gift to the UTC Athletics Department that led to the construction of a state-of-the-art basketball practice facility in the Brenda Lawson Student-Athlete Success Center. Part of a $3.25 million project that also included the Wolford Strength and Conditioning Center, the Chattem Basketball Practice Facility gives the Chattanooga men's and women's basketball programs unlimited access to a private practice facility in the middle of campus anytime of the year.
Guerry's commitment to UTC has long been rooted in his family history. Both he and his uncle, John, currently serve on the UC Foundation Board of Trustees. His late father, Alex, was also a member of the Board of Trustees. His grandfather, Dr. Alexander Guerry, served as president of the University from 1929-38.
He has spent the last 30 years with Chattem and has served as the Chairman of the Board since 1990. Guerry has been the company's Chief Executive Officer for the last 11 years.
The Distinguished Service Award program was started in 2002 as a way for the Southern Conference to recognize those individuals from its member institutions who have contributed to all aspects of the university. This year's honorees include J. Bradley Wilson (Appalachian State), William B. (Bill) Sansom (The Citadel), Robert (Bobby) and Susan Marlowe (College of Charleston), Ross Manire (Davidson), Jay and Amy Hendrickson (Elon), David and Carol Mauldin (Furman), Mike Cummings (Georgia Southern), Gary Cooney (Samford), H. Michael Weaver (UNC Greensboro), Zan Guerry (Chattanooga), Norman A. West (Western Carolina) and Robert D. Atkins (Wofford).
