The Brian Brown plaque dedication and celebration was held Saturday, Oct. 9, in the Elam Center.

Event coordinators said about 250 people attended the event.

Brown was a former director of the Office of Campus Recreation at UTM. In attendance were campus recreation student supervisors, former supervisors, faculty, staff, alumni and many friends and community members. Also in attendance were Brown’s widow, Laura Brown, and their two children, Georgia and Boone.

Laura Brown is currently a professor in Health and Human Performance at UTM. Brown’s parents, Mitch and Claris Brown of Crossville, Tenn., also attended the dedication.

Gina Warren McClure, current director of Campus Recreation, gave the opening statement. Former student supervisor Steven Cavness sang. Laura Brown spoke, and David Belote delivered the keynote speech.

“This wasn’t just a dedication for the plaque, it was also a celebration of Brian and the impact that he made on the lives of many people, particularly students,” said McClure. She added that she believed that the celebration “helped with the healing process,” as well.

Brown’s impact was apparent by the number of people who came to the dedication. The plaque can be viewed anytime in the Elam Center Concourse at the top of the steps by the recreation check-in center.

The plaque inscription reads as follows: “Pray hard, play hard, work hard, and love your family.” Brian Brown served the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1988 to 2000 as a student assistant, assistant director, and director of the Office of Campus Recreation.

His legacy will live long for he touched so many.