TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Oct 31, 2025

Fourteen years after a viral Facebook page turned Knoxville attorney Stephen A. Burroughs into a local meme legend, the story of “Swagfest” remains an East Tennessee iconic internet moment, Knox News reports. It began in 2011, when University of Tennessee freshman Ryan Clark created a page filled with memes featuring Burroughs’ billboard photo and exaggerated captions like “King of Knoxville; My Palace Is the Sunsphere.” After Burroughs promised a party if the page hit 10,000 likes, thousands gathered at the Sunsphere and Knoxville Convention Center for the free Swagfest, where Burroughs arrived in a Hummer limousine, handed out prizes and urged donations to United Way. What started as a college meme evolved into a real-world celebration of viral fame long before influencers and internet culture became mainstream. "What's unique is that everyone knew who he was, but they didn't know him, now, it's like they're friends with him. You cannot buy that advertisement," Internet Marketing Expert Group CEO Justin Jones told the news outlet.