College of Law alumnus Carl Colloms (’66) has committed $1.15 million over seven years to provide scholarship funding for University of Tennessee College of Law students.
This gift will grow the Judge Carl E. Colloms Scholarship endowment to one of the largest in college history.
“Student scholarships are crucial to the College of Law’s success, and we are deeply grateful to Judge Colloms for his incredibly generous support,” Dean Melanie Wilson said. “Scholarships change the lives of our students by reducing the cost of their education and the debt they carry after graduation. Scholarships also allow the law school to attract the best and brightest students.”
Colloms, a Charleston, Tennessee native, has designated his gift to benefit students from southeast Tennessee. He began his career as a solo practitioner in 1966 and quickly distinguished himself as a leader in the community. He served as a county attorney for more than five years and was the youngest county leader in the state during his term as mayor in Bradley County, a position then called county judge.
After returning to private practice, Colloms was appointed as a child support magistrate and served in that role for nearly 25 years.
Colloms dedicated his legal career to supporting children and their families, and he continues that legacy of giving back with this gift.
Colloms hopes recipients will go on to positions of influence and someday realize “that they were helped by that man from that small town in Tennessee,” he said.