Coach Tommy Lucas was a prominent football, track, and basketball mentor who coached teams across the state and in Alabama. Coach Lucas is a Mendenhall native who was a four-sport l etterman at Mendenhall High and played football at Ole Miss for Coach Johnny Vaught from 1960-65. He began 31-year coaching career after a pro football stint with the San Diego Chargers. He served as head football coach at North Pontotoc, Kossuth, West Jones, McComb, Houston, Taylorsville, Mendenhall, Starkville, and Prattville, AL. He served 4 years as an assistant coach, 27 years as a head coach and 23 years as athletic director. Tommy compiled a football team record of 195-101-2. He guided Taylorsville High to the 1983 state championship and coached Starkville High to 5A state crowns in 1986, 1990, and 1991. His Starkville teams were ranked in the top ten by the Associated Press in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, and 1996. Under Coach Lucas, Taylorsville won 28 consecutive games from 1978-1980. His 1979 junior high, junior varsity, and varsity teams at Taylorsville were a combined 30-0. He also coached track, basketball, and golf. Tommy was the head coach in the 1993 MS/AL football game and served as an assistant in the same game in 1992, both Mississippi team wins. From 1978-1999, he coached 85 players who received college athletic scholarships. He revamped, revitalized, and improved athletic programs at Prattville, AL, Starkville, Mendenhall, and Taylorsville.