Tennessee Tech alumnus, trustee Barry “Butch” Wilmore honored by state legislature
Tennessee Tech alumnus and trustee Barry “Butch” Wilmore is honored on the floor of
the Tennessee House of Representatives April 16, 2025, as State Rep. Ryan Williams
(right) looks on. Photo courtesy of Grace Gilmore.
NASA astronaut and two-time Tennessee Tech University graduate and trustee Barry “Butch”
Wilmore was recently honored with a resolution from the Tennessee General Assembly.
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Williams, recognized Wilmore’s extensive involvement
at Tech, noting that “Wilmore's courage and tenacity were forged from his early days
as a student at Tennessee Technological University” and that “He has served his alma
mater with distinction as a member of the Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees since 2017.”
The resolution passed unanimously in both chambers and was signed by Gov. Bill Lee
on April 11. Wilmore visited the Tennessee State Capitol on April 16, where he was
honored on the House floor by Williams and his colleagues. Tech President Phil Oldham
was also in attendance.
“Butch Wilmore represents the best of Tennessee, and it’s a great honor to have the
opportunity to recognize him on the House floor,” Williams said in an earlier statement.
“I thank Butch for his patriotism and Volunteer Spirit, and I look forward to seeing
his continued contributions to science through space exploration.”
While Wilmore has long been a hometown hero on Tech’s campus – earning a spot in Tech’s
Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, receiving the university’s Outstanding Alumni Award in
2010 and accepting an honorary doctorate from Tech in 2012 – he gained international
acclaim over the last year as part of the inaugural manned voyage of the Boeing Starliner.
Technical challenges with the spacecraft led to a more-than-nine month stay at the
International Space Station before Wilmore and fellow astronaut Suni Williams returned
to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule on March 18.
During his extended mission, Wilmore participated in two video calls with the Tech
community: one on June 11 with the children of Tech faculty and staff and one on Nov. 5 with current Tech students.
Upon Wilmore’s return, President Oldham praised his strength and dedication, saying, “His faith sustained him through unexpected challenges and brought him to this moment.
He has made all of us at his alma mater enormously proud.”
The university is planning multiple events to celebrate Wilmore in the coming months,
including during the Board of Trustees meeting on June 26 — Wilmore’s first since
returning from his historic mission. Additional details will be shared ahead of the
event.