JOHNSON CITY – The East Tennessee State University National Alumni Association presented its 2022 Alumni Awards on Friday, Nov. 18, during a special awards dinner. 

ETSU men's tennis alum Lendward "Lenny" Simpson Jr. received the Award of Honor. Award of Honor recipients must have earned one or more degrees from East Tennessee State University. He/she must also demonstrate significant accomplishments in his/her chosen field of work and demonstrate moral and/or financial support to the university since graduation.

Simpson was an up-and-coming tennis player who had already played three times in what is now the U.S. Open when he accepted an academic and athletic scholarship to ETSU in 1968. He won four mixed doubles titles, was a quarter finalist in the NCAA tournament and played number one in singles and doubles throughout college. In addition to being named the Outstanding College Athlete in America in 1972, he was coach of the ETSU team from 1972-73.

After graduating in 1973 with a degree in both psychology and physical education, he became director of tennis at a club in Bloomfield, Michigan, and helped run the Michigan Junior Development Program. In 1974, he turned pro and was the first Black player to play world Team Tennis. He went on to teach and administer tennis programs in Knoxville and his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2014, Simpson was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame and founded the award-winning non-profit One Love Tennis Foundation.

Joining Simpson in receiving honors at Friday's dinner included William B. Greene, Jr. (George L. Carter Award), Lisa Carter (Outstanding Alumna Award), Steve DeCarlo (Outstanding Alumnus Award), Justice Jeffery S. Bivins (Distinguished Alumnus in Public Service Award), Betsy Bowers (Distinguished Alumna in Higher Education) and Dr. Brian Noland (Honorary Alumnus). 

Established in 1915, the ETSU National Alumni Association is the university’s first and longest-operating organization. The Alumni Awards began in 1970. A complete view of previous award recipients can be found at etsualumni.org/awards.

Lenny’s list of achievements in the ATA and the USTA include:

• 1957 played his first tournament. Won his first doubles championship
• 1962 he won the boys 12 and under championship, and the boys 16 and under championship
• 1964 he accepted an academic and athletic scholarship to the Hill School in Pottstown, PA and transferred to Cheshire Academy
• 1964 he played his first of three national championships, now US Open. He was the youngest male player to play at the age of 15.
• 1964 he made the Junior Davis Cup team
• 1964-65 he was the men’s doubles champion with his partner, Louis Glass
• 1967 he was the mixed doubles champion with Bonnie Logan
• 1968-72 accepted academic and athletic scholarship to ETSU. He won 4 ATA mixed doubles titles while double majoring in psychology and physical education. He was Outstanding College Athlete in America in 1972. He was a quarter finalist in NCAA tournament and played number 1 in singles and doubles all through his college career.
• 1972-73 was the coach of the tennis team
• 1973 he married his wife, Joann, who also attended ETSU, and moved to West Bloomfield, MI
• 1973 Lenny was the director of tennis at Square Lake Racquet Club and helped run the Michigan Junior Development Program.
• 1974 Lenny turned pro and was the first black player to play world team tennis. The team was Detroit Loves. His teammates included Rosie Casals, Phil Dent, Allen Stone, Butch Seewagen, and Trish Faulkner, and others
• 1975-2005 moved to Knoxville and ran the city tennis program, the YMCA tennis program, and taught at several private tennis clubs
• 2005-12 co-owner of Centre Court Racquet Club in Knoxville
• 2012 inducted into Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame
• 2013 founded the Lenny Simpson Tennis Fund
• 2014 inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame