Governor proclaims "Capt. Barry Wilmore Day" in Tennessee

MT. JULIET, Tenn. -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen proclaimed it "Capt. Barry Wilmore Day" in the state, and numerous dignitaries presented the former Golden Eagle linebacker with a variety of honors when the NASA Astronaut spoke at his high school Friday.

Wilmore came home Friday morning to thunderous applause from the student body, family, friends and local government officials at an assembly in his honor held at the Mt. Juliet High School gymnasium.

Capt. Wilmore is a 1981 graduate of Mt. Juliet High were he played football, baseball and wrestled. He attended Tech where he joined the Golden Eagle football program as a walk-on and eventually earned induction into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.

On Friday, he was presented proclaimations from State Senator Mae Beavers and State Rep. Susan Lynn and the key to the city by Mt. Juliet mayor Linda Elam. Several Tennessee Tech administrators were also on hand, including University President Dr. Bob Bell and Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.

Wilmore presented Governor Bredesen a Tennessee state flag (photo below) that he took on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Gov. Bredesen in turn told Wilmore that today -- Friday, Dec. 11 had been proclaimed "Capt. Barry Wilmore Day" across the state in his honor.

Note: Special thanks to Tommy Bryan of the Wilson Post for providing photos and information from Friday's event.