Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas (1998) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas

Induction:
1998

Men such as Reed Green, Roland Dale and William D. McCain, looked to the future and dreamed of what Southern Miss and its athletic programs could be, and who all now reside in the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame.
   Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas richly deserves a spot among that group of men and his determination and foresight helped the school emerge as a solid athletic and academic power in his over 20-years as President.
   One of the many achievements that Dr. Lucas helped engineer at Southern Miss was the school's entrance into the old Metro Conference. Without a conference affiliation for over 20 years at the time, Lucas quickly realized that for the school's athletic program to make the progress it needed to gain competitive status it desperately needed a conference affiliation.
   Drawing on his presidential contacts at the other Metro Conference schools and working hand in hand with athletic director Roland Dale, Lucas completed what was billed as the "biggest thing that had ever happened to Southern Miss" when the school joined the Metro in July of 1982.
   But the Metro Conference did not play football and Lucas recognized that to realize one of his dreams, that of a school with a well rounded, complete athletic program would not be accomplished until football had a league of its own. Lucas worked diligently to bring his dream to fruition. Again pooling all of his resources and drawing on the expertise of athletic director Bill McLellan, Conference USA was born and began playing football in 1996.
   Athletics to Dr. Lucas was not a job, but an integral part of the University, and he realized early on that a successful athletic program brought exposure and rewards to the academic programs as well.
   He was and is well known to many current and former Southern Miss athletes as an avid supporter of the school's athletic teams. And although I am sure he would be the first to tell you that while he doesn't know the Xs and Os of the game, but he would come all dressed in his black and gold ready to cheer on his Golden Eagles or Lady Golden Eagles.
   Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas was recognized for his numerous academic achievements here at Southern Miss and for building it into a "distinguished university." But he also earned Hall of Fame recognition honor because of his vision and his dream to make Southern Miss a leader in both academics and athletics.
   Dr. Lucas becomes just the second President at Southern Miss to earn induction into the Hall of Fam. Dr. William D. McCain preceded him when he was inducted in 1988.