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Austin Peay trustees approve three namings for Health Professions Building
Summary
The Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees approved three naming requests for spaces in the new Health Professions Building, honoring the Eddington/Thaxton family, benefactors Janet and Johnny Rudolph Jr., and the Burchitt family. The board adopted the agenda, heard a presentation from Chris Phillips, and approved the recommendations by roll-call vote.
Chair Joe O'Malley called a special meeting of the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees and the board approved three naming requests for spaces in the university's new Health Professions Building.
Chris Phillips, vice president for alumni engagement and philanthropy and executive director of the APSU Foundation, presented the naming committee's recommendations, which he said were made in accordance with APSU policy 7009 after committee meetings on July 15, July 31 and Aug. 8, 2025. “These naming opportunities for the HPB are considerable,” Phillips said, adding the building will be ribbon-cut on Sept. 11.
The board approved the following namings as a group:
- The second-floor radiology suites as the Paxton Eddington Radiologic Suite, honoring Dr. Ernest Mack Eddington Jr., Brenda Pelly Paxton Eddington and Dr. Steven Franklin Thaxton. Phillips summarized their careers and service, noting Dr. Thaxton served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps and that the Eddington family's philanthropy has included fully funding music scholarships at Austin Peay.
- A third-floor debriefing room as the Wade Hadley Rudolph Debriefing Room, made possible by a premedicine endowment established by Janet and Johnny Rudolph Jr.; Phillips identified Janet Rudolph as an Austin Peay alumna (class of 1975) and said the endowment honors Wade Hadley Rudolph's experience and the family's support.
- A clinical simulation bed dedicated to Sandra K. Gilliam and Joanne Workman Burchitt, recognizing Gilliam's roughly 40-year surgical nursing career training APSU students and Burchitt's service and nursing education prior to her death in 1984.
Chair O'Malley said, “You've heard the explanation from Mr. Phillips,” and a motion to approve the three namings was moved and seconded. The secretary conducted a roll-call vote: Trustees Gibson, Jenkins, Johnson, Kimbrough, O'Malley, McInnis/McGinnis and Rainey were recorded as voting in the affirmative; the motion carried and the namings were approved as presented. Several trustees were recorded absent during the meeting.
With no further business, the board adjourned the special call meeting.
The naming recommendations and supporting materials were included in the board packet.
