Left to Right: Ed Boiling, Charlie Brakebill, Andy
Holt, & Joe Johnson
was asked to convince his bestie, Dr. Ed
Boling, to override the architect and move
the statue to its very visible location, and
that is exactly what happened. The iconic
Torchbearer is in its proper place, burning
bright as a campus beacon, a popular place
for graduation pictures, and ground zero
for the pregame activities on UT home
football Saturdays when the Vol Walk
passes it.
Charlie will tell you it is about opportunities,
making the most of any chance to build a
relationship. Being willing to walk through
every door that opened set in motion the
relationships that built Brakebill and then
allowed him to set the same in motion for
others. Charlie was primarily responsible
for the $12 million endowment from the
noted Hollywood director that established
the Clarence Brown Theater. Back in 1967,
the university was seeking funds for the
construction of a new theater and made
arrangements for Ed Boling and Charlie to
meet with Movie Director Clarence Brown
in California.
In preparation for the meeting, Charlie has
some big concerns and went to Ed, saying,
“I don’t know much about Hollywood, but
every actor or actress I’ve seen has got a
cigarette in one hand and an alcoholic drink
in the other.” With both of them thinking
no deal would even be considered without
before dinner drinks, the two convinced
the university to approve the purchase of
bourbon, scotch and gin for the meeting.
When the drink was offered to Brown, he
responded with, “Young man, I’ve been
out here this long, and I haven’t taken
a drink of alcohol during that time, so I
don’t think I’m going to start tonight,”
Brakebill recalled. What seemed to be an
ending became the start of a relationship
“opportunity” with Charlie and his wife
often welcoming the Browns as family in
Tennessee. The Clarence Brown Theatre
for the Performing Arts was formally
dedicated in November of 1970, with the
Browns in appearance. Several times,
Brown called the occasion one of the
greatest moments of his life.
Photos Right: A rendering of the Clarence Brown Theatre and Clarence Brown. The Brown’s often
visited with the Brakebills when in East Tennessee. The last photo is at Charlie’s retirement party from
the University of Tennessee.