B. Ray Thompson is a rags to riches story. Originally a coal miner himself, he biult one of the largest coal mining operations in the southern Cumberlands and became a multi-millionaire.
He was a dedicated philanthropist to education, sports, and medicine. At Fort Sanders hospital he built the Thompson Cancer Survival Center with the intention that it rival any cancer research and treatment center, anywhere. He established a $100 million trust to that end. He gave to the university, he established scholarships. He gave the lions share to build the arena.
Ed Boling was a UTK president and contemporay of Thompson. Together, with Thompson's enthuasiastic support of all things Tennessee, they built the campus we had until the recent renovations and additions began.
“A Memorable Story” - The Vol Historian