The clay pot on the kitchen table was called the thanksgiving cup.
Every night during dinner, Tom Edwards (BS/ME, ’72) and his family would place a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter into the cup and say something they were thankful for that day. The collection would be included in a donation to their church at the end of the month.
Gratitude and giving back have been guiding forces throughout Edwards’ life. It shaped how he approached his professional career and influences his philanthropic endeavors, which has included numerous donations to the University of Tennessee.
Edwards has been involved with engineering at UT for more than 50 years, moving from a student and band member to a trusted advisor and generous benefactor. For all his contributions over that time, Edwards has been selected as the 2026 recipient of Nathan W. Dougherty Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Tickle College of Engineering.
“It’s humbling and a bit shocking,” said Edwards, who received the award last week at the TCE Awards Banquet. “I’m more of a person that stays kind of in the shadows. I’m a worker bee for the most part. I don’t try to grab the limelight, so it’s humbling that other people have seen things that I’ve done and are willing to recognize that.”
The Dougherty Award was established by the college in 1957 to pay tribute to Nathan Washington Doughtery, who served as dean of engineering from 1940-56. The award recognizes engineers who have brought honor and distinction to the college through their achievements or who have made significant contributions to the engineering profession in Tennessee through professional activities.
Being able to help others brings me and my family great joy, and we are grateful to be in the position to make an impact in some way.
Following his graduation from UT, Edwards joined his family’s business, Olympic Industries, which was founded by his father in 1959. He worked alongside his father for several years, ultimately taking over the company after his father’s death. Under Edwards’ leadership, the company became known as one of the nation’s premier custom steel fabricators.
Edwards, a member of the Pride of the Southland Band during college, built the foundation for his engineering career at UT. He remembers taking a statics class his freshman year with a professor who was known for giving lengthy tests that caused rumblings from students. Before one test, a student asked the professor about the length.
“The professor said just do as good as you can, work on what you can, and feel comfortable with working. I can tell by the way you approach the problem whether or not you understand what we’re trying to do. He said our goal is to teach you how to think,” Edwards recalled. “More than anything else, college taught me how to think and solve problems—to approach a problem rationally and work your way through the problem.”
Legacy of Giving Back
Edwards and his wife, Elaine, have made several leadership gifts to TCE, the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, and UT Athletics. Their philanthropy reflects a belief in investing in people and programs that enhance hands-on learning, leadership development, and institutional excellence.
Edwards endowed the Engineering Fundamentals program to support graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants and established the Edwards Assistant Dean and Director of Integrated Engineering Design.
Most recently, Edwards played an active role in the launch of TCE’s Department of Applied Engineering, serving as an advisor, funder, champion, and source of encouragement during its formative stages.
Edwards received the Pride of the Southland Lifetime Member Award in 2013 and the university’s Alumni Service Award in 2018. The Dougherty Award is the latest honor for Edwards, who has established a legacy through his service and contributions that will benefit the university and engineering students for generations to come.
“My hope is that I may influence somebody else to give back and not just think that things were owed to them,” Edwards said. “Being able to help others brings me and my family great joy, and we are grateful to be in the position to make an impact in some way.”