The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:21 AM
Former UT President Emerson "Eli" Fly Dies At Age 82
“Another UT legend has left us and he will be missed by all,” said UT President Joe DiPietro. “We are thankful for his many years of service and leadership, including serving as president, to his beloved alma mater.”
Fly served as president of UT from 2001 to 2002, ending a 40-year career at the university.
“I don’t know of anybody who was more devoted to the University,” said UT President Emeritus Joe Johnson.
Fly was from Milan, Tennessee like former UT President Andy Holt. Milan notes both on its welcome sign.
“I don’t know anyone else who has that,” Johnson said. “It’s quite an accomplishment and a well-deserved recognition.”
After beginning his college education at UT Martin, Fly earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UT Knoxville in 1961 and became a certified public accountant in 1962. He worked as a junior accountant for Price Waterhouse from 1961 to 1962 before returning to the University as an assistant auditor, a position he held from 1962 until 1968 when he became the internal auditor. In 1973, he became the vice chancellor for finance at UT Chattanooga. In 1977, he was named UT vice president for business and finance. In 1991, he became the executive vice president.
Fly was acting president in 2001. He retired in 2002, but in 2003 Johnson, who was interim UT president, asked Fly to return as interim executive vice president and chief financial officer. He retired again in 2004.
Johnson said he asked Fly to return as executive vice president because of his knowledge of UT as well as his good relationship with state officials.
“I trusted Eli completely,” Johnson said. “If I went to war, I’d want to go with Eli.”
