A junior college transfer, he found his way to Nashville in the fall of 1968 as a basketball recruit of Coach Ken Dugan. (You read that correctly – Coach Dugan coached basketball several years at Lipscomb.) He enjoyed classes taught by Bob Hooper and Morris Landiss, and he remembers the friendly nature of the Lipscomb campus. Learn more about Larry Lingerfelt, who sat down for a few minutes this week to speak with www.lipscombsports.com.

What years did you compete for Lipscomb?

I played basketball for Coach Ken Dugan my junior and senior years, 1969 and 1970, after transferring from junior college.

What teammate was most memorable?

I admired the leadership displayed by Merle Smith and Owen Sweatt.  I admired Bruce Bowers for his athletic ability – he played much bigger than he was.

What degree have you earned?

I earned my B.S. in Physical Education from Lipscomb in 1970, and I earned my M.S. in Administration from Alabama A&M in Huntsville in 1973.

Why did you attend Lipscomb?

The primary reason I attended Lipscomb was that Coach Dugan gave me an opportunity to extend my playing career.  I also wanted to attend a college somewhat distant from my home.

What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?

My favorite athletic memory from Lipscomb is the camaraderie of my teammates and of the coaches.  In the end, those associations are the most valuable that a person who is a member of a team can earn and keep.  Individual stellar performances are important, but the most important part of any athletic endeavor is the shared sacrifice that each teammate endures to achieve success of the team.

Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb?

Coach Dugan had a huge impact on my life.  He taught me to believe in myself, to stay the course, and to never give up on the dream.  Although he was not my coach, I very much admired the intense drive that was characteristic of Coach (Duane) Slaughter.

What do you remember about Lipscomb campus life during your time here?

Although I lived off campus, I remember that the campus was very friendly.  For a young person far away from home, the welcoming atmosphere that was typical of the students and staff was very much appreciated.  I had that same feeling when I came on campus for the 1970s reunion last week.  Several students went out of their way to assist my wife and me as we searched for the reunion site.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb?

All these many years after the fact, I can say that the most outstanding lesson of my years at Lipscomb was how people should be treated.  There was never a time when profanity, denigration, humiliation, nor abuse of any kind was used in any athletic endeavor in which I had a part.  I always felt that the coaches had my best interests at heart. 

When returned to campus last week for our reunion, I got that same feeling in the pre-game locker room meeting from Coach Casey Alexander, his assistants and his players.

Who were your favorite professors?

Dr (Bob) Hooper was one of my favorite professors.  He was able to capture the essence of history and pass that along to his students.  I also greatly admired Dr. Landiss.  He was an extremely demanding professor who expected the best of his students in English classes.

What do you do now?

Upon graduation I began a 39-year career in education in my home county in Alabama.  I primarily taught social studies at several levels in high school.  The last eleven years of my career were spent as principal of my local high school.  I have been semi-retired for ten years.  For six years I have taught an online economics class for high schools students in Alabama.  During my teaching career, I was also a part-time commercial photographer.  I use those skills as my wife and I travel the country each summer.

Tell us about your family:

My wife and I have three children.  One is a band director, another is an assistant principal, and one is a civil engineer in Nashville.  My wife and I continue to teach in retirement.   She is a private piano teacher, and I teach an online class.

FAST FINISH

• Favorite food: Home-cooked fresh vegetables from the garden
• Favorite TV show or movie: “Grapes of Wrath”
• Favorite Bible scripture: The Beatitudes
• Favorite sports team: Lipscomb Bisons, Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers
• Pet peeve: How reporters never seem to ask the important questions
• Person I most admire: My wife
• Person I’d most like to meet: Abraham Lincoln
• Rather ride or drive? Drive
• Pick one – salad or dessert: Salad
• Dream vacation spot: Yosemite National Park
• Early morning or late night person? Late night

You can reach Larry by email at larrydonlingerfelt@gmail.com