48

Ron Johnson - 1966

A bruising runner and feared linebacker, he played football for LCHS for 4 years. He was Captain his last 2 years when he won honors of All Conference, Most Outstanding Back, MVP and honorable mention All East Tennessee. He also was voted Back of the Week several times. He says his most memorable moments and game was against Oak Ridge in 1965 before a record breaking crowd of over 5000 fans. He participated in 29 tackles in that game! He signed a four scholarship with Middle Tennessee State University and later coached in Atlanta and Oneida. Tn. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

90

MITCH KEEBLER - 1974

Mitch played basketball, baseball and golf while at LCHS. A 2-year starter in basketball, he had a great senior year, being ranked 14th best player in Tennessee by the Knoxville New-Sentinel. He made All-County, All-District, All-East Tennessee, Chattanooga Times All-Tri-State (players from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama), third-team AP All-State, honorable mention UPI All-State and was nominated for the Prep All-American Basketball Yearbook. He led the baseball team in winning the District and runner-up in the Region. He also lettered 2 years in golf. He received a 4-year basketball scholarship to Belmont University, lettering 2 years. He also ran cross-country and was on the track team while at Belmont. He was inducted into the LCHS Hall of Fame in 2010.

67

Mary Louise Ledbetter

Player-Coach-Teacher
 

Few have given back to their school more than Mary Louise. As a player she was in the era of 3 on offense and 3 on defense and admits the game wasn't exciting. In college, after a degree in Biology, with minors in Chemistry and Physical Education, she heeded the call from Supt. Buckner to teach and coach at Lenoir City High. Now she was teaching, coaching and sponsoring the Junior Class and sponsoring the cheerleaders (for 22 years) and doing the State Attendance registers. She became Attendance Supervisor in 1986 until she retired in 1990. She didn't stay retired long, as the nest year, she returned to teach part-time, assist the new Attendance Supervisor and help in any other way she was called on. If the team uniforms needed washing, she did it - if she was needed to work in the concession stand at the games, she did it-if money was needed to be raised for a school project she raised it. This is 2006 and she is still doing it. From 1949 and counting, she continues to give back to her school. She was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.

83

HERB LINGINFELTER – 1946

In the last class to graduate at mid-term, Herb played and lettered in football 3 years. He played tackle on offense and defense the first year. He played fullback on offense and tackle on defense the second year. He played fullback on offense and linebacker on defense the last year. He was awarded the Charles R. Evans trophy as "Best Player in 1944." Herb was elected team captain his last season. The team lost one game his senior year and closed the season with a win over Decatur (GA) Boys High after being rated two touchdown underdogs. He was contacted for a visit by Coach John Barnhill at Arkansas, by Coach Red Sanders at Kentucky and by Coach Bear Bryant at Alabama. One week after high school, he went to Clemson on a full four year scholarship and immediately made second string fullback. He was chosen to play two quarters in a spring game against Georgia Tech. Herb plunged over for one touchdown and passed for another in Clemson's win over Georgia Tech. This won personal approval from Coach Howard. He volunteered for the Army in the summer of 1946 and played two seasons at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Again, he played fullback on offense and tackle on defense. His team was tied for first place in the Sixth Army Division playoffs at the Presidio in San Francisco in 1946, and they were runner-ups in the Division in 1946. After being discharged, he returned to Clemson for the spring practice. He was asked by the Army Security Agency to contract another tour of duty, which he did. After his second discharge, he signed on to the Knoxville roster to play pro football for the city, but owners' problems prevented starting the season. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009.

71

Elvin Little

Coach

Another Tennessee Vol basketball star took the reins of the basketball team in 1958 and he made an immediate impact on the program by coaching the team to the first State Championship since 1930. His team won 33 games while losing only 2. Coming from a small high school in Princeton, West Virginia where he made All State in both football and basketball, he knew the way to win. Lenoir City continued their winning ways by again going to the State Tournament in 1959, losing in the second round to the eventual state winner. During his time at Lenoir City, he posted a record of 74-21 (78% win record). He later coached for 19 years at Science Hill, Johnson City, Tennessee, where he compiled a 497-114 record (81% win record). He led his teams to 5 appearances in the State Tournament, with his 1967 taking 3rd place and his 1968 team losing in the finals. He later served as Athletic Director and Superintendent of the school. He was elected to his high school Hall of Fame, the Upper East Tennessee Hall of Fame, the TSSAA Coaches Hall of Fame and is a charter member of the Science Hill Hall of Fame of 2007. He is among a select few to have won a State Championship as a player and to have also coached a team to a State Championship. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.