TDOT Region 1 Director Fred Corum Retires After 53 Years of Service

Knoxville, Tenn. – After 53 years on the job, Fred Corum is retiring as Tennessee Department of Transportation Region 1 Director effective June 30, 2009. 

 

Corum began his career in 1956 working on a survey crew plotting out the new interstate system. In the next 28 years Corum climbed through the ranks to become Region Director in 1984. The region directors oversee maintenance, construction, traffic engineering and material testing. Region 1 includes 24 East Tennessee counties that stretch from Monroe, Roane and Morgan Counties all the way to Johnson County in the eastern tip of the state that borders North Carolina and Virginia. 

 

During a special ceremony today, state and local officials along with TDOT employees surprised Corum, removing a large Tennessee state flag to unveil the newly renamed Fred B. Corum Administration Building at the TDOT Regional Headquarters on Strawberry Plains Pike in East Knoxville.

 

“Fred Corum’s knowledge and years of experience will be missed,” said Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “The entire department wishes him well in his retirement.”

 

Representative Harry Brooks who sponsored the building renaming bill added, “It is the least we can do to honor Fred Corum, who has served 53 years to help make Tennessee’s transportation system one of the best in the country.”

 

TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges remarked, “I’ve learned a lot from Fred and I wish him Godspeed in his retirement. Fred is known across the state for his knowledge and fairness. He will be missed.”

 

“My time here has been aided by some tremendously talented people,” said Corum. “The people I’ve gotten to know and work with throughout the entire region is what I will miss most. I’m biased, but I think we have the best employees in the state.”

 

Fred and wife, Loretta, plan to travel and spend more time with their two sons, four grandchildren and great grandson.

 

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