KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Natalie L. Haslam, a towering figure in Knoxville philanthropy and the first woman to have a college at the University of Tennessee named in her honor, has died. She was 94 years old.
A Lifetime of Leadership and ‘Firsts’
Haslam, a Knoxville native, passed away at her home on Friday. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in French, she was named “Miss Tennessee 1951-1952” during her senior year and remained deeply connected to her alma mater throughout her life.
Her civic leadership was marked by groundbreaking achievements. She was the first female president of the Knoxville Symphony Society and served as president of numerous other organizations, including the East Tennessee Foundation and the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Greater Knoxville.
A Transformative Legacy in Music and Education
Alongside her husband, Pilot Company founder James A. Haslam II, Natalie Haslam was a transformative philanthropist. In 2006, the couple made a $32.5 million gift to UT, with $10 million specifically designated for the School of Music.
That gift led to the construction of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, which opened in 2014. In a historic move in 2024, the University of Tennessee named its entire college of music the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, making her the first woman to receive such an honor.
“I am not a musician, but music has always meant a lot to me,” she said at the naming ceremony. “If we are lucky, music is a part of our lives at almost every turn.”
A Pillar of the Community
Her influence extended far beyond the university. She was a founding member of the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and served on the boards of countless organizations, from Zoo Knoxville to the Tennessee Arts Commission.
She received numerous accolades, including being named East Tennessean of the Year in 2018.
Natalie L. Haslam is survived by her husband of 50 years, three daughters, three stepchildren, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending. Her legacy as a civic leader, philanthropist, and champion for the arts will endure in Knoxville for generations.