Tech And Baxter Celebrate Their 105th Years And A Love Of Community

Tennessee Tech, and Baxter officials came together Thursday in celebration of the 105th birthday of Baxter and Tech.

With the celebration cancelled last year due to COVID, attendees said it made that much sweeter to be able to come together. Tech President Phil Oldham said that he was proud of the relationship between the town and the university.

“We help your students see opportunities, learn how to solve problems, and then return to make lives better in Baxter, in Putnam County, and the rest of our state,” Oldham said.

Oldham said the fact that Baxter chose to have a joint celebration with Tech shows that the town’s community and the university’s communities are one and the same.

A love for both communities is the reason B.J. and Cleo Nash Dennis left money in their estate for Upperman High School students to receive scholarships to Tech. Oldham said it will provide an opportunity for generations of UHS students to receive a collegiate education.

“Their endowment generates almost $65,000 annually for scholarships to help with a dozen or more students each year,” Oldham said.

The celebration was accompanied by the 129th Army Band of the Tennessee Army National Guard. The depot also held a raising of the Tennessee Tech and Baxter flag.

Baxter Beautification Chair Jeanie Lee gave a history of the flag, one aspect of which represents how Baxter and a quality education have a long, hand-in-hand history.