president, Rev. F.J. Lee. After the move, the junior college received accreditation from the University of Tennessee. In 1958, Lee gained its first varsity sports team: men's basketball.
In 1960, the junior-college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school adopted the Vikings mascot in 1961. Greek letter clubs began the following year. The annual Parade of Favorites pageant began in 1963. The first Lee Day was held in 1964. In 1965, Lee’s high school program closed and the school opened a science building. The following year Lee desegregated, reached an enrollment of 1,000, and started the shift to a four-year institution. The 1,800-seat Conn Center auditorium was constructed in 1977. In 1982, the college mascot became the Flames. The sports arena and library were built in 1983 and 1984 respectively.
=== Conn administration ===
Charles Paul Conn became president in 1986. He became the longest-serving president of any college or university in Tennessee history. During his …
