George Drinnon

George Drinnon is an assistant dean for undergraduate programs in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee and also a faculty member in Africana Studies.

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Early Life and Education

George Drinnon was born into a middle class family, the son of Thomas Jefferson Drinnon and Rutha Elizabeth Drinnon.

He attended school until the age of 12, at which point he began working as a laborer.

In 1892, he wed Martha Drinnon (born Buttry) in their hometown of Nashville, Tennessee and they had 10 children together.

He passed away in 1987 at 93 years of age, and was buried in Tennessee’s Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Achievements and Honors

Drinnon retired from the University of Tennessee and relocated to Chattanooga. He remained an active participant in his community, serving on the founding board of the local chamber of commerce, being a proud member of the Lions Club, serving on several charitable organizations and donating much of his personal wealth to local causes such as the Chattanooga Museum of Art and Museum of the Cherokee Nation.

His other contributions to the city included founding the downtown community service committee and being co-founder of City of the Woods’ community service club. Additionally, he founded Chattanooga Area Public Schools Foundation and Chattanooga Medical Center Foundation; furthermore, he served on both committees for his church’s mission committee as well as founding its fire department.

Personal Life

George Drinnon was an esteemed author and speaker on the Holocaust. He was a wise, warm, and kind man who took great pleasure in spending time with his family.

He is married and has two sons. He resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.

As Executive Director of the University Of Tennessee Haslam College Of Business, he provides academic advising to undergraduate students, supervises class scheduling and courses, and strives to enhance student learning outcomes.

He holds a degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University and also has a master’s in business administration from the University of North Carolina. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as serving on numerous university committees. Most recently, he has been with Haslam College of Business for over 15 years.