Union University Athletics

Lonnie Searcy is a 1970 graduate of Union University where he was a member of the men’s basketball team from 1966-70. He was the first African-American student and student-athlete at Union University in 1966.
                                                     
Searcy set the school record for rebounds in a game with 28 in 1966-67, before it was broken by his teammate with 31 in a game the same year. Searcy was named to the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) All-Conference Western Division in 1967-68 and was named to the VSAC All-Tournament team the same season. Union posted a 22-3 record that season, the best in the state of Tennessee and one of the best in the nation. Union won the VSAC Western Division Title and the VSAC Tournament Title that season.
 
In 1968-69, Searcy was named MVP of the VSAC Western Division. He helped lead Union to the NCAA College Division South Region Tournament played in Jackson, Tenn. Union finished second in the tournament with Searcy being named to the NCAA South Region All-Tournament Team.
 
Searcy’s play helped Union men’s basketball to their first ever win over Memphis State in 1968-69 and then help Union post a second straight win over Memphis State the next season. Searcy was again voted to the VSAC All-Conference Western Division Team and VSAC All-Tournament team in 1969-70. In 1970, Searcy was selected as an Outstanding College Athlete of America.
 
Searcy’s 1967-68 men’s basketball team was inducted into the Union Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. He was a teammate of fellow inductee, Ken Hane. Four members of the 1967-68 men’s basketball team are now members of the Union Sports Hall of Fame (Ken Hane, David Marsh, Dan Rudesill, Lonnie Searcy)
 
Searcy is a member of Union’s 1,000-point club. He also participated two seasons for the Union Track Team (broad jump) from 1968-70.