Willis Ends Career At LMU As Recipient Of The B. Frank Turner Award

HARROGATE, TN – On Tuesday night, in front Lincoln Memorial University’s entire athletics family and honored guests, Railsplitter baseball player TeWayne Willis (Hazard, KY) was named the 2008 recipient of the B. Frank Turner Award.

The Turner Award is given each year in memory of former LMU athlete and trustee, B. Frank Turner and is awarded to the male and female athletes who best exemplify athletic ability, academic achievement, and good citizenship.

Willis, a two-year letter winner for the Railsplitters, transferred to Lincoln Memorial from Roane State Community College after his sophomore season.  After his junior season at LMU, Willis was named a team captain and spent the off-season serving in his home community of Hazard, Kentucky, in many ways, including serving as a middle school football coach.

In his two years on the baseball diamond, Willis tallied a .362 career batting average which ranks him 8^th all-time at LMU.  His most impressive numbers lie with his ability to steal bases.  Last year Willis stole 42 bases to set a new school record for a single season.  This year he equaled his mark of 42 stolen bases to become the all-time stolen bases leader at LMU with 84 in only two seasons of play.  Willis currently ranks first in the nation in stolen bases for the 2008 season.

Willis is a criminal justice major at Lincoln Memorial University and is on pace to receive his degree at the University’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 3 on the LMU campus.