Truett-Mcconnell University celebrates 75th anniversary

Dr. Marty Carnes TMU, Dr. Chris Childs, TMU Alumni Assoc. President, Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner, TMU President Dr. Emir Caner, Dr. Barry Thompson, TMU Board of Visitors Chairman and Dr. David Drake, TMU. (Dean Dyer/wrwh.com)

CLEVELAND – Friday was Truett McConnell University’s 75th Anniversary Day as proclaimed by the White County Board of Commissioners and Cleveland City Council. On July 23, 1946, the school established its charter. The university held a ceremony to mark the occasion.

TMU President Dr. Emir Caner told the crowd that the vision for the institution started in 1944 with four pastors and three laypeople at a prayer meeting in Blairsville. They prayed for a college in the North Georgia Mountains. Two years later, with the help of Cleveland citizens and the Georgia Baptist Convention, Truett McConnell Junior College was chartered.

As part of Friday’s celebration Dr. David Drake, Director of Alumni and Church Relations at TMU, said they have collected items of the University’s history that will be placed in a time capsule that will reside on the campus and will be opened in 2046, the 100th anniversary. (Dean Dyer/wrwh.com)

Now a four-year university, Truett McConnell has 55 programs of study and offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees.

Dr. Caner told the crowd, “We exist for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ to stand firm on scripture and win people to Jesus, and that vision hasn’t changed since September 1944.”

The college will observe its anniversary throughout the coming year.