Foutch Family Honored by Belmont University

DeKalb County native Dan Foutch and his wife Lisa have been honored by Belmont University.
The University celebrated Homecoming Saturday, February 8 with the long-anticipated grand opening of a new Alumni House on campus, named for the Foutch family. Thanks to the support of numerous alumni and donors, one of the oldest structures on campus was recently renovated to become home base for Belmont’s 28,000 alumni.
The building originally served as Ward-Belmont’s Clubhouse No. 10 during the early 20th century when 10 clubhouses lined campus in the former Club Village. Each club house hosted Ward-Belmont social clubs for resident students and was used for meetings, meals for special occasions, teas and dances and housing visiting alumni. The original fireplace, banister and beams remain in Clubhouse No. 10 and were integrated into its restoration.
During Saturday’s ribbon cutting, the building was formally named the Foutch Alumni House in honor of alumni Dan and Lisa Foutch, both 1982 graduates from Belmont’s College of Business Administration. A member of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, Dan Foutch is senior vice president of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. in Glasgow, Kent.
Dan Foutch said, “Lisa and I feel fortunate to be have been involved with Belmont University since 1978. We have watched as the school has grown from 1,200 students to today’s enrollment of almost 7,000. Having been students, and through our continued involvement with the Board of Trustees, it is exciting to have a special place for Belmont alumni to gather when they return to visit this beautiful campus. We are very pleased to play a part in this first-ever Alumni House at Belmont.”
A 1955 graduate of Belmont College and a Trustee Emeritus for Belmont’s Board of Trustees, church and community leader Helen Kennedy was also honored this weekend as the Alumni House Great Room will bear her name. “I am so grateful to Belmont’s administration for saving a historical house that was once Club Village for Ward-Belmont and Belmont College and will now serve Belmont University as its first Alumni Home.”
The Foutch Alumni House is now home to Belmont’s Office of Alumni Relations and provides a gathering space for groups of 40 to 50 people. Recent alumni as well as those from the University’s former Ward-Belmont days can reunite and reminisce about their college days in the Foutch Alumni House, which will also frequently display alumni artwork throughout the building.
“The significance of this building is as symbolic as it is physical as it has something that every generation of alumni can remember and can identify with,” said Vice President of University Advancement Bo Thomas. “We hope this first-ever space specifically created for alumni conveys a message to all alumni how important they are and how much we want to stay engaged and connected with them.”
Dan is a graduate of DeKalb County High School and was a scholarship basketball player at Belmont University. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Foutch.