Reprint from Buffalo River Review, archive December 4, 2024
Submitted by University of Tennessee

The Everywhere You Look, UT mural on the side of a century-old building testifies to the University of Tennessee’s impact on Lobelville Mayor Robby Moore and his family.

“The University of Tennessee changed my life, and I know it’s changed my wife Katerina’s too,” he said.

This 50-foot mural, located on the original Bank of Perry County building, attests to that fact for an average of 1,209 passersby daily. Lobelville is located seven miles off I-40 and 13 miles from Linden, the county seat, so anyone driving to or from I-40 into the county passes by the mural.

“To get involved is an honor,” said Robby (Martin ’96) about joining the mural campaign. “It will show not just to Perry County, but to our guests too, that the University of Tennessee is everywhere.”

For Robby and Katerina, that presence is personal.

Raised in Lobelville, Robby attended UT Martin and stayed in the community. Katerina, originally from Ukraine, came to Perry County through a high school foreign exchange program.

After returning to the U.S. for college, she attended Lambuth College and met Robby through friends. After deciding to remain in the U.S., Katerina attended UT Knoxville, earning her law degree in 2006.

“Katerina brought me a whole new perspective,” said Robby in a 2015 Our Tennessee article about the couple. “The American dream is very much alive. You hear all the negative stuff, but Katerina is living proof and, to a certain extent, I am, too.”

That dream continues to shine through their lives.

Robby has served as mayor for 22 years and Katerina, a local attorney, has served as Perry County General Sessions and Juvenile Court judge since 2014.

He sees the mural as more than a testament to pride in his University, but a tribute to how it has shaped his family and community. It shows that the American dream is very much alive.

Robby purchased the building 15 years ago to preserve it. Now, the building hosts a coffee shop. This year, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development recognized the Bank of Perry County as a 100-year-old continuous business in Perry County.

Robby emphasized the mural’s significance to his community, especially now that Perry County High School is a part of UT Knoxville’s Flagship Scholarship program as of September 2024.

Graduates from participating high schools admitted to UT Knoxville for fall 2025 will receive a scholarship to cover tuition and mandatory fees in combination with the HOPE scholarship.

“That’s quite a big deal for a rural distressed community,” he said.

But UT does even more. Robby said the UT Institute of Agriculture and the UT Extension office in Perry County impact the daily lives of those in rural communities.

They provide educational programs in agriculture, community resource development, family and consumer sciences, natural resources and 4-H youth development while equipping residents with the knowledge and skills to improve their livelihoods, sustain local economies and enhance family well-being.

The UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service and the UT County Technical Advisory Service also provide help to local governments while offering expert advice to strengthen infrastructure, improve public service and foster local governance, Robby said.

He hopes this mural serves “as a reminder of what all Tennessee does for our rural community.”

To Robby, the slogan , “Everywhere You Look, UT,” encapsulates the idea that UT directly or indirectly touches each community in the state.

“UT is everywhere, giving support from education, changing people’s lives, but also to the daily support of different programs in our community,” he said.

The mural in Perry County, created by Smith Signs and Awnings in November 2024, marks county number 57 in the Everywhere You Look, UT campaign.

This campaign aims to add a mural in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties by 2030. Since its launch in 2018, the campaign has created 63 total murals across the state. The University covers the cost of the first mural in each county.

To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Perry County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website.

Did you know Lobelville can provide translation services? 

Look at this list, and I'm sure you will find your language. 

There is no charge to you to request this service.  If you feel this would be of value to you, contact City Recorder, Cristal Odom, and let her know.  She can take it from there.