My brother, Tom Dillard, has been a University of Tennessee basketball fan for as long as I can remember. A UT graduate, he has celebrated the Vols’ biggest victories, marveled at the legendary players, and appreciates the traditions that have shaped Tennessee basketball for generations.
Several months ago, my friend R. Larry Smith invited me to tour his private collection of University of Tennessee basketball memorabilia. I left knowing there was one person who would enjoy the experience as much as I had.
Tom.
Tom Dillard
When Larry welcomed us back for a second visit, I brought along more than my brother. I brought the idea of sharing the experience with KnoxTNToday readers. What began as a personal invitation quickly became the beginning of this series.
I expected to see an impressive collection of basketball memorabilia.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly the memorabilia would become secondary to the stories.
From the moment we walked through the door, I realized this wasn’t simply a room filled with jerseys, trophies and signed basketballs. Every corner reflected years of research, careful preservation and a genuine love for Tennessee basketball. Photographs, game programs, one-of-a-kind artifacts and keepsakes filled the space, but Larry’s storytelling brought them to life.
As we began our tour, Larry rarely introduced an item without first sharing the person or moment behind it, such as Dr. Ed Boling’s personal game seats, given to him by Dr. Boling’s son. A photograph led to the story of a player. A basketball sparked a memory from an unforgettable season. A game program opened the door to another chapter in Tennessee basketball history. Before long, it was obvious this collection wasn’t about owning rare pieces—it was about preserving the memories connected to them.
Watching Tom experience the museum made the afternoon even more enjoyable. Like so many Tennessee fans, he immediately recognized familiar names and memorable moments such as the cutout of Jimmy England that once stood in Stokely Athletic Center. Larry reflected with Tom on the player cutouts in this first room, “There are probably not five of these left.”
Curator R. Larry Smith
More than once, though, he stopped to listen as Larry shared details neither of us had heard before. Those conversations transformed interesting artifacts into meaningful pieces of Tennessee basketball history.
What stayed with me most wasn’t the size of the collection. It was Larry’s commitment to making sure these stories continue to be told. He refers to this collection as “a little hobby.” His enthusiasm reminded me that Tennessee basketball’s legacy isn’t measured only by championships and victories, but also by the coaches, players, fans and traditions that have shaped the program through the years.
As we followed Larry into the first gallery, I realized we weren’t simply beginning a museum tour.
We were stepping into decades of Tennessee basketball history—one story at a time.
Larry Smith welcomes viewers into one of the most remarkable collections of University of Tennessee basketball history and the largest collection in the SEC. From the very first moments, it is clear this museum is about much more than trophies—it’s about preserving the stories behind them. Incredible is the only description for this ‘hobby,’ as you will hear throughout my time there.
Tomorrow: Part 2 of Inside Tennessee Basketball: A Walk Through History
Every display has a story, and Larry Smith seems to know them all. In the next installment, the tour moves beyond the first gallery as the conversations, memories and hidden treasures reveal why this museum is far more than a collection of memorabilia.
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