Willie Dee Edison - 1991 

Willie was born in Lincoln, Alabama and graduated from Talladega County High School. As a member of the basketball team he distinguished himself as a gifted athlete.  He led that state in scoring, averaging 30.1 points and 22.3 rebounds per game and was named MVP County, All-Region, Prep All-American, First Team All-State, and Team Captain. 

In 1978 Willie became a member of the Southern Union State Junior College basketball team.  During his first season with the Bison, Willie started all 28 games and let the team in rebounding and scoring.  After breaking several Southern Union records, he was named Best Rebounder and Best Defensive player of the Year. 

In his sophomore year, Willie soared to greater heights as he rewrote the record books at Southern Union.  His one-game records included most points with 51, most field goals with 19, most free throws with 22, and most rebounds with 21.  Willie’s season records included most points with 799, highest average with 24.3 in 33 games, most free throws with 233, and most consecutive free throws without a miss with 29.  During the Athletic Banquet at Southern Union, Willie was honored as Outstanding Athlete of the Year, MVO, Best Rebounder, Best Defensive Player, best Free Throw Shooter, and Team Captain. Because of his outstanding record, Willie was one of 11 All-Stars selected to our Hawaii, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.  He led the team in rebounding and scoring, averaging 22.4 points per game. 

After being recruited by several colleges, Willie signed with the University of Central Florida at Orlando.  Willie’s first season was cut short due to an ankle injury but he shot his way back into the record books in his senior year.  He was third in the nation in field goal percentage among Division II teams and set the single game team record for field goals at 66.8%.  At the end of the season, Willie was selected to the First Team All South NCAA Division II, First Team All Sunshine State Conference, and MVP. 

Willie completed his B.A. at UCF in 1982 and went to earn his Doctorate in Theology at the International Bible Institution in Plymouth, Florida.  In 1985 he returned home to Lincoln and became a counselor for the Georgia Department of Human Services where he worked with teenagers suffering from drug problems and child abuse. 

Today Willie is the owner of a construction company and serves as the Assistant Minister for Union Springs Baptist Church in Lincoln.  He and his wife Jessie have two children, Jeremy and Cornelius.