The UT Board of Trustees approved resolutions on Friday to honor two longtime employees who are retiring this year after more than forty years of service.
The board approved the honorary resolutions at its fall board meeting held Friday in Knoxville.
UT Treasurer Charles “Butch” Peccolo will retire on December 30. He came to UT in 1976 as a staff internal auditor.
“As a mentor to many and kind to all, he is beloved by his UT work family, always willing and seemingly never too busy to help a colleague,” the resolution states.
Peccolo thanked the trustees, the administrators who have mentored him, his family and his current colleagues.
“I want to thank the people that I stand shoulder to should with every day to conduct the business of the university. You could not ask for a more dedicated and great group of folks who believe in this place,” he said.
Upon his retirement, he plans on traveling and spending “a whole lot of time with grandkids.”
His wife, Dulcie Peccolo, retired from the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences earlier this year after many years of service.
Lofton Stuart has worked for UT for forty-three years. He will retire on January 31, 2016.
He has served as assistant director of annual giving, director of alumni programs, director of alumni affairs for UT Knoxville, assistant vice president for alumni programs, and executive director of the UT Alumni Association. He also served as an executive assistant to UT presidents Joe Johnson and John Petersen.
“In keeping with the Volunteer spirit he personifies, Mr. Stuart graciously agreed to delay his retirement to serve as interim vice president for development and alumni affairs and president of the UT Foundation for a seventeen month period in 2014 and 2015,” the resolution states.
Stuart thanked the board and his longtime colleagues, saying he will always be connected to the Volunteer family.
“I will be watching you from the sidelines and cheering every day,” he said.
He plans to get his real estate license and hopes to work with UT clients.
“What I will miss most are the people … fellow staff, students, and volunteers. They make this place great,” Stuart said.