COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech alumnus Randy Wilmore has given loyally and consistently to Tech for 36 years, and it all started with a $10 gift.
Not long after he graduated from Tech with a degree in business management, Wilmore was asked to help with a phone-a-thon to call alumni in the Nashville area.
"I have always believed if you are asking someone to do something, you should be willing to do it yourself, so I made my first contribution to Tech," he explained. "It may not sound like much, but for a new graduate with a new job and student loans, $10 felt like a commitment. I wanted to show my appreciation and support to Tech and 36 years later, I still feel the commitment to my alma mater."
Wilmore gives to Tennessee Tech Athletics because he understands the demands of the student-athlete and believes athletics to be the front door of the University.
"While I want Tech to succeed on the field of competition, I know the biggest impact occurs when these students leave Tech and make a difference in their communities and beyond," he said. "While my college athletic career was very short and I was not a very good athlete, I was determined to be a great teammate. You do not have to be the best player to be an important part of the team. We all have a skillset we bring to every situation, and learning how to work together as a team and respect different abilities and talents only makes the group stronger and better."
Wilmore's career began in banking, but he eventually transitioned into medical practice management where he worked primarily with medical groups, hospitals, and HCA executives. His healthcare career spanned more than 20 years and ultimately brought him to Columbia as the Chief Executive Officer of Mid-Tennessee Bone and Joint Clinic and later at Family Health Group. Columbia introduced him to Farm Bureau, and he made his latest career move to Farm Bureau Health Plans as Chief Marketing Officer.
"I feel very fortunate to be at the Farm Bureau and part of an organization dedicated to the family and the unique culture that comes with working for a company whose board of directors is comprised of fulltime farmers. I only wish it had not taken me 30 years to get here."
In reflecting on how Tech helped him in his career, Wilmore explained, "Tech allowed me to grow and do things I would never have dreamed possible as a student. Those experiences, whether they were successes or failures, made me a better person and prepared me for life in the real world."
Wilmore gives back, not only to his alma mater through financial support, but through his time to civic organizations as well.
"When I was chairing the Clinic Bowl in 1992, I remember my grandfather asking me, 'How much are you getting paid to do that?' It made me stop and think about why I spent so much time volunteering, and the answer was simple: It brings me much joy. Community service has always been something I've done. It was true in high school, it was true at Tech, and it has continued to be a big part of my life today. I really feel we all have a responsibility to give back and try to leave things better than we found them."
Wilmore said he tries to get back to campus as often as he can, whether it be for a football game, basketball game, alumni board meeting, or fraternity graduate dinner.
He added, "It is impressive to see the great changes taking place on campus and inspiring to see the next generation attending Tech. Wings Up!"
