Здание колледжа в Теннесси получит имя филантропов Бачманов

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology building under construction in Greene County will be named the Phil and Martha Bachman Center, according to recent action taken by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Susanne Cox, president of TCAT Morristown, requested the naming and said the Bachmans were known throughout the region for their philanthropic support, integrity and stewardship. “Through decades of business leadership, civic engagement, and dedication to the region, they helped strengthen opportunities for countless students and families in their community,” Cox said. She spoke at the June 12 quarterly meeting of TBR in Nashville, requesting the name for the facility being built on the former campus of Greene Valley Developmental Center. Phil Bachman was a longtime icon of automobile sales in Greeneville and surrounding cities. He passed away in August 2025 at age 87. He is best known as one half of Bachman-Bernard with Myron Bernard, a business partnership that formed in 1984 and continued for decades. Bachman was a graduate of Greeneville High School and earned a degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. At age 29, Bachman became the youngest Cadillac dealer in the United States with his business located on Tusculum Boulevard. In 2013, the Bachman Bernard Cadillac dealership on East Andrew Johnson Highway was presented the prestigious Mark of Excellence award from the Cadillac division of General Motors. The award recognized Bachman Bernard Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac as being one the highest performing Cadillac dealerships in the nation. Bachman’s 54-year career included dealerships in four towns in Northeast Tennessee, selling numerous brands: Pontiac, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota, Scion, Datsun, Nissan, AMC, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Renault, and Delorean. In addition to his Greeneville dealership, he also had Phil Bachman Toyota in Johnson City, Phil Bachman Honda in Kingsport, and Honda Morristown. Bachman was active in the Ferrari Club of America, served on the board of directors of Greene County Bank, and was a longtime member of the Greeneville Rotary Club. In January, the Phil and Martha Bachman Ferrari Collection of 48 vehicles sold for a total of $125 million on the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee 2026 in Florida. Martha Bachman passed away in February 2024. The naming of the Bachman Center was approved unanimously by the Board of Regents. In other action, the board approved finance staff recommendations for tuition and mandatory fees for academic year 2026-27 that, combined, are a 3.64 percent increase at TCATs and an average 3.65 percent increase at the community colleges, including Walters State. The meeting was livestreamed and is archived for viewing on the TBR website at: https://www.tbr.edu/board/june-2026-quarterly-board-meeting.