100

ROBERT TOWNS -1962

Towns played basketball at Lenoir City High School from 1959 until 1962. He was Captain of his team his senior year. He averaged 10.8 points per game his junior year and 16.2 points per game his senior year. Towns also played baseball. He continued playing basketball after graduation at Hiwassee Jr. College and Alabama College in Montevallo, Alabama. Towns coached basketball for the Lenoir City Panthers for 6 years, 1980-1985. His team won the district tournament in 1985. In 1981 Towns was 10th in East Tennessee for the coach with the highest winning percentages. In 1983 he climbed to the 8th spot. Towns also coached golf and tennis. He was TSSAA District Coach of the Year as golf coach in 1993. Towns began a track program at Lenoir City Elementary School and organized a county-wide track meet held yearly in May. It was initially called the Rotary Invitational Track Meet but was changed to the Robert Towns Invitational Track Meet after Towns death in 1995. The first track meet was held in 1989 and is still held annually on the first Thursday in May. He was inducted into the LCHS Hall of Fame in 2011.

22

Ed Turnbill - 1927

Turnbill was a football standout at tackle, playing from 1923-24-26 and the great 1927 team that is recognized as one of the best produced at Lenoir City. He made many All East Tennessee teams for his play in 1927. He was a very versatile player moving into the backfield when needed. He was elected as a charter member to the Hall of Fame in 1970.

116

Jerry Tyler - 1954

A three year starter, the soft shooting lefthander led the team to the District in 1953 but an injury in the semi-final game may have beaten. He later made the All District team. As Captain his last year, Lenoir City won the District and he was voted MVP. In his career he scored 339 points and pulled down 232 rebounds. His one game total of 31 points was a modern day record at LCHS. He entered the Army draft, where he played along side several college All Americans while stationed in Germany.   He was inducted into the LCHS Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

125

Doyle Varner - 1978

Varner was a four-year letterman in football for the LCHS Panthers from 1974-77. He was the fist freshman to earn a letter at LCHS in 20 years. Doyle was a top player and leader all four years for the Panthers. He played fullback, cornerback, and halfback positions. He was known for his speedy, twisting, and spinning runs leading to gained yards. Doyle finished his senior season with 1080 rushing yards and caught passes for 200 yards, for a season total of 1280 yards. He scored 16 touchdowns. He was named All East Tennessee, East Tennessee Player of the Week, All Loudon County, and Top Panther Athlete. He was the recipient of the Cicitain- Rotary Club trophy and the Most Outstanding Football trophy. He was chosen by his peers as Most Athletic and Mr. LCHS. Doyle was offered scholarships to Carson Newman, Tennessee Tech University, Mars Hill, Maryville College, and Western Kentucky. He was inducted into the LCHS Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

121

Sarah Vaughn Vance - 2005

Sarah played basketball, softball and volleyball during her four years and Lenoir City High School. During her freshman year, she was a starter in basketball, averaging 11 points per game. She has a game high of 26 points against Carter, which led to a 50-47 victory. She was named to the All District Team. In Softball she started at short stop and lead the team to district runner up with a .509 batting average. During her sophomore year, Sarah was a starter in basketball, averaging 11 points per game, She was named to the All District Tournament Team and averaged 14 points per game in the tournament. She was captain and started as short stop in softball and had a batting average of .513. She lead the team to a district championship, a regional championship, and a first-ever state tournament appearance, finishing in 4th place. During her junior year, Sarah was captain and starter in softball, playing shortstop. She led the Panther as District Champions, Regional Champions, and State Champions. She had a batting average of .595 with 10 home runs, 29 walks, over 40 stolen bases; She was named All State IF and All District. Her senior year, Sarah was captain and starter in softball, playing shortstop. In the lead off spot she had a .656 batting average, 7 home runs, 61 hits in 93 at bats, and was 48 of 48 in stolen bases. She was named MVP, All State IF, All District, and Prep Xtra Softball Player of the Year by the Knoxville News Sentinel. Once again the Panthers were District Champions. She was selected as MVP for the district tournament. In volleyball she was named to the All District Team, All District Tournament Team, and Most Athletic Award. Sarah received a scholarship with the University of Tennessee where she played in the Women's College World Series, Final Four, and helped the Lady Vols with the SEC Championship. In a World Series game, Sarah got the only hit against Arizona's Olympian pitcher, breaking up a perfect game. After leaving UT, Sarah went on to play for the Belmont Bruins in Nashville.   She was inducted into the LCHS Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.