| Year: | 1966-69 |
| Hometown: | LaGrange, Ga. |
| Team: | Men's Tennis |
| Induction Year: | 2000 |
A three-year letter-winner for the Golden Eagle tennis team, Lynn left an indelible mark on the Tech tennis history books. He played No. 1 singles and doubles for the Golden Eagles from 1967 through 1969, and was undefeated in 19 straight singles matches between his junior and senior seasons.
In 1968, Lynn posted an 18-6 record in singles play and led the team to a 21-3 record. In 1969, while pushing the Golden Eagles to a 20-2 record. Lynn was 40-16 overall, including an 18-13 record in singles and a 22-3 mark in doubles play.
He won the Tennessee Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubles championship and reached the finals in the TIAC singles competition in both 1968 and 1969 while serving as team captain. Lynn took the doubles title in the newly formed Ohio Valley Conference tournament in 1969. The victory helped the Golden Eagles claim the overall OVC title, a feat which would not be accomplished by another Golden Eagle tennis team for 30 years.
Lynn’s success certainly didn’t stop after his time at Tech, which ended with him earning a bachelor’s degree in 1970 in industrial engineering. In 1973, he began his experience in the food industry when he spent five years with the Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation. After that, he served as vice president for Century 21 Real Estate Corporation at their corporate headquarters in Irvine, Cal., and followed that with a stint as VP of the Burston Corporation, a privately-owned restaurant headquartered in southern California. Later on, Lynn served as the CEO of Sonic corporation and as chairman and CEO of Shoney’s Inc.
His career netted him numerous awards, including being named Entrepreneur of the Year by Venture Magazine in 1987. In 1991, he was named outstanding Alumnus at the University of Louisville, where he received his MBA, and Outstanding Alumnus at Tennessee Tech in 1992.
Steve also continued to excel in competitive tennis, competing in the 40-and-above age group. At the time of his induction, he ranked 16th in the USA in doubles in 1999, and fifth in the South singles in 1998.
