Football Operations Center

One Bank gives $50,000 to Tennessee Tech’s Football Operations Center 

A local financial institution recently made a significant investment in Tennessee Tech Football.

One Bank’s $50,000 gift to the Football Operations Center will help Tech recruit and retain student-athletes and increase the program’s economic impact.

“One Bank is thrilled to be a small part of the growth and success of Tech,” said Elizabeth Fournet, chairman of the board for One Bank. “We feel the growth of Tech Football and athletics in general will enhance the college experience and benefit our community. One Bank knows that, if we support our community and help it thrive, the businesses in that community will follow suit.”

A local middle and east Tennessee company with Monterey roots, One Bank is the only bank serving the region for as long as Tech has been in operation. One Bank is a family-owned company and has operated under the same family ownership since 1901.

“Throughout our history, we have hired Tech graduates, sponsored Tech events and provided business and nursing scholarships,” said Fournet. “Tech is the university that educated the majority of our employees, a number of our employees’ children are enrolled at Tech and we benefit from several Tech interns annually.”

Fournet says that in addition to employing a significant number of Tech graduates, the wife of One Bank’s third board chair was a Tech graduate as well. Lillian Pointer Ray graduated from Tech in 1933.

“We have many employees who attended Tech, and a few were collegiate athletes,” said Fournet. “They are proud and happy to have benefited from excellent programs offered at Tech. Many are from several-generation Tech families. We see a lot of Tech Pride and Wings Up stickers on cars in our parking lots.”

The 40,000-square-foot Football Operations Center will be the primary sports medicine, athletics training and physical therapy facility for all 14 Tech athletics teams and will feature a lighted practice field, Football Academic Enrichment Center, player lounge, contemporary team locker room, film room, coaches’ offices and hospitality suite.

The estimated cost to build the Football Operations Center is $15 million. State funds cannot be used for this type of athletic facility, so it will be funded entirely through private donations and support from alumni, friends and members of the local business community. For more information about Tech’s Football Operations Center, visit tntech.edu/foc.