Hart Serves As Pilot Pumper; Story In KNS

By Jason Yellin on October 4, 2011 8:50 AM

Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart Jr. admits he's still getting used to seeing new faces in Knoxville, and Monday afternoon was no different. Hart was one of the so-called "Pilot Celebrity Pumpers" who was out at his local Pilot Travel Center greeting customers and filling up their vehicles on as part of a United Way fund-raising campaign.

"It's only been 11 days, so I'm still assessing, learning and observing,'' said Hart, who assumed his athletic director duties on Sept. 21. "It's still just a snapshot.''

A few of the customers took the time to get their pictures taken with Hart once he slid them his business card after going to their car door to ask their fuel preference.

The Pilot Celebrity Pumpers program, which is entering its 17th year in Knoxville, raised $62,080 of the $12 million the United Way generated for charity in Knox County last year.

After an hour of pumping gas for a dozen or so patrons, Hart headed back over to the University of Tennessee campus where his duties include both fund raising and managing coaches.

Check out a Photo Gallery of Hart in action for the charity.