Gary Rose (CEHHS, ’85) was presented with an Accomplished Alumni Award from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville on December 6, 2017 by the associate vice chancellor of development, Steve Catlett.
Rose, who is based in Knoxville, currently serves on UT Knoxville Alumni Association Board of Directors, is an integral member of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) Dean’s Board of Advisors andhas served as chair of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Board of Governors. He serves as the Division President with Reinhart Foodservice.
Catlett said Roses’ passion for UT, Knoxville and his true Volunteer spirit would be hard to match because he has proven it with his time, talent, and treasure.
In 2013, Gary and his wife, Donna Rose (Haslam ’87), honored their roots by creating scholarships in both CEHHS and The Haslam College of Business. These scholarships are awarded to students from their hometowns of Franklin, Ohio and Greeneville, Tennessee.
Catlett stated that “over the years, the Accomplished Alumni Award has been presented to astronauts, authors, Olympians, CEOs and media personalities, to name a few. And like Gary, they all represent what one can achieve with a University of Tennessee degree.”
Rose had humbled beginnings like most entry-level employees but with hard work and determination, he earned opportunities to show his leadership skills in high-level positions at US Foods, as owner and president of FMS Solutions, and now division president with Reinhart Foodservice.
Rose shared advice and experience about his career in foodservice as well as his thoughts on serving his alma mater to a group of students and special guests.
When surprised with the award at the event, Rose said “I am both humbled and honored to receive this award. Because of my involvement with the University of Tennessee, I have had wonderful opportunities in life and have been truly blessed”
Ann Fairhurst, department head of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM) in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences said “Since his return to Knoxville, Gary has been active with our department. He graciously helped sponsor a recent Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism alumni event and continually offers his expertise to our department. He is very deserving of this award and we look forward to his continued partnership with our department.
To add to the celebrations, Gary and Donna Rose also celebrated 25 years of marriage at the UT Visitors Center event. The location was not only the planned event venue to honor the accomplished alum, but also the site of their wedding reception in December 1992.
The Roses reside in Knoxville and have two children attending the University of Tennessee, Alan (21, Senior in Business) and Chrissy (19, Sophomore in CEHHS).