MARK MCGEE
Staff Writer

The Tennessee’s Backroads Heritage Fall Dinner will have a “Big Orange” theme.

Scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Bell Buckle Banquet Hall the fundraiser will feature Dr. Tim Johnson, a professor in the history department at Lipscomb University, who will be discussing his new book, “Robert Neyland, The West Point Engineer Who Built Tennessee Football”. 

In his book Johnson gives readers a rare look at Neyland, a media shy coach who became one of the most successful college football coaches of the 20^th century as well as retiring as a general in the United States Army.

The book marks the 100^th anniversary of Neyland’s first season as the Tennessee football coach. The Volunteers are wearing a gray jersey in selected games this season to honor Neyland.

Johnson has appeared across the state in speaking engagements as well as numerous TV and radio interviews throughout the region.

He earned PhD in history in 1989 from the University of Alabama. He has been on the faculty at Lipscomb since 1991 where he is the Elizabeth Gentry Brown Professor of History.

Johnson is widely known for his definitive scholarship on the Mexican-American War and General Winfield Scott. He has authored or edited nine books and more than two dozen scholarly articles.

He has been a research fellow at Yale University and is a two-time research fellow at the Virginia Historical Society. He has been invited  to speak at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and has been a finalist for the Army Historical Foundations “Distinguished Writing Award”.

The Neyland book is already in its third printing due to its popularity. It will be available at the dinner.

The cost per person is $45. The dinner menu is meatloaf, chicken and dressing, broccoli salad, green beans, twice baked potatoes, oatmeal cake and chocolate cake.

There will be a silent auction as well as live auction of an autographed football item from the Tennessee team.

Checks should be made to Tennessee’s Backroads Heritage and sent to 1994 John R. Hill Road, Lewisburg, TN 37091. The registration deadline is Sept. 25.

The public is invited to attend. Wear orange and white if convenient.

For questions call 931-639-3289.