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A Look Back: Knoxville College's McKee Hall Represented at Safety City For Our Youth


A Model of Knoxville College's McKee Hall Presented at Safety City 3 Years ago still stands the test of time.


Ahead of homecoming 2021, a building representing Knoxville College was added to Safety City to honor the institution, according to Shelley Clemons, a Knoxville police officer and Knoxville College alumna.

Clemons, who came to the city to attend Knoxville College in 1989, joined the Knoxville Police Department in 1994 and has served her community as an officer ever since. She said she looks forward to this time of year every time it rolls around.


President of Beck Cultural Exchange Renee Kessler looks at the new sign marking a model of Knoxville College’s McKee Hall at Safety City, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

A model of Knoxville College’s McKee Hall is dedicated at Safety City, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel, Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

President of Beck Cultural Exchange Renee Kessler speaks at the the dedication of a model of Knoxville College’s McKee Hall at Safety City, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel, Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

"KC brought me to Knoxville. I didn’t know a thing about this city until I left Houston to come here. It brought me to love it and I've been here ever since."


Knoxville College’s president Leonard Adams speaks at the dedication of a model of Knoxville College’s McKee Hall is dedicated at Safety City, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

Officer Clemons told Knox News that despite the challenges Knoxville College has faced, the institution is vital to the city.


Vice Mayor Gwen McKenzie speaks at a dedication of a model of Knoxville College’s McKee Hall is dedicated at Safety City, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

Police Chief Eve Thomas speaks at a dedication of a model of Knoxville College’s McKee Hall is dedicated at Safety City, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

“Our homecoming is more like a reunion, which is different than a lot of college and university homecomings. That's just the ambiance of HBCUs. We might not have football or a band but it's family. We might not be fully operable yet but our KC family goes back to 1875. We are brothers and sisters. Their kids are our kids. We come back to have organized events and gatherings to raise money for the college."


Original Story by: Angela Dennis

Knoxville News Sentinel


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