“Our campus boasts the outstanding radio station WUTC, which provides an excellent mix of national news and locally produced shows. WUTC is an asset to our city!”Rick and Lori Govan
Rick and Lori Govan honor their UTC experience by supporting students and strengthening programs across campus - including WUTC.
Learn more about WUTC's planned giving program here.
Rick and Lori Govan took very different paths to UTC — but both found their way to a place that shaped their lives.
Rick (’69) enrolled at the University of Chattanooga after the headmaster at Suwanee Military Academy personally drove him to campus for a visit. There, he connected with Margaret Burhman and began his college journey.
Lori (’93) was a non-traditional student. She first attended Chattanooga State before leaving school to work at Provident Insurance Company. While working full-time, she felt a strong desire to finish her degree. With the support of her parents — and encouragement from several coworkers, including Rick — she enrolled at UTC.
Balancing a full course load, a full-time job, and the responsibilities of homeownership, Lori had little time for campus involvement. Rick, meanwhile, lived on campus in the stadium dorm and threw himself into student life. Financial aid and a job at WFLI radio — where listeners knew him as “Ringo Van the Music Man” — helped him fund his education. He joined Kappa Sigma, participated in the Canterbury Club, and acted in plays as a drama and speech minor. He also co-hosted “What’s New at UC” on WDXB with classmates Frank Griscom, Suzan Cotellesse, and B.B. Bell.
Both Rick and Lori recall faculty who were deeply supportive and invested in their success, including Robert Mildram, George Conner, Margaret Burhman, Dorothy Ward, Tom Ware, Larry Engel, Mike Richards, and Arlie Herron. Rick still remembers passing Dean of Students Robert Mildram on a sunny morning: “He was singing Welcome Happy Morning, making him seem like a cheerleader for the whole student body.”
Rick went on to a 30-year career at Unum (formerly Provident), retiring as vice president of regional sales and marketing for the Group Benefits Department. Lori built a career in human resources and today works for Kenco Logistics.
Their fond memories, the mentorship they received, and their love for UTC inspired them to give back. When completing their estate plan, the Govans included UTC with a desire to support areas meaningful to them and with impact across campus.
“Because of our gratitude for this university, Lori and I want to do what we can to ensure that future students, especially those with financial need, experience similar opportunities to ours,” Rick says.
A portion of their planned gift will fund scholarships for English majors with financial need. Another component will help attract and retain top-tier faculty in the English Department. Their gift also supports WUTC — an asset the Govans strongly believe in. “Our campus boasts the outstanding radio station WUTC, which provides an excellent mix of national news and locally produced shows. WUTC is an asset to our city!”
Rick and Lori are also loyal supporters of UTC Athletics and can often be found at alumni tailgates during football season. They have included Athletics as part of their planned gift as well.
The Govans are givers in every sense of the word. As Rick puts it, “The whole package — education, mentorship, friendships, and community — helped shape who we are today.”
This story courtesy of UTC Advancement: Their Journey, Their Gift
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