This award is the highest honor given by the university to alumni and is given to a graduate who is making advancements in his or her career, while also embracing the values that Lee embodies.
Distinguished Alumnus of 2024: Bruce Deel ‘90
Past Distinguished Alumni
| 1960 - Charles W. Conn* | 1982 - E. C. Thomas* | 2004 - Bill George* |
| 1961 - James A. Cross* | 1983 - Paul L. Walker* | 2005 - John Gentry |
| 1962 - J. H. Walker, Sr.* | 1984 - Robert White | 2006 - Judy Biebel |
| 1963 - R. E. Hamilton* | 1985 - Lucille Walker* | 2007 - Steve Dorman |
| 1964 - Charles R. Beach* | 1986 - R. Lamar Vest | 2008 - Jeff Conn |
| 1965 - James A. Stephens* | 1987 - Billie Jones | 2009 - Andrea Hudson |
| 1966 - Paul H. Walker* | 1988 - Don Medlin* | 2010 - Marcus Lamb* |
| 1967 - David Lemons* | 1989 - Robert Daugherty, Sr. | 2011 - Darlia McLuhan Conn |
| 1968 - O. Wayne Chambers | 1990 - Kenneth E. Hall | 2012 - Andrew and Tori Smith |
| 1969 - W. C. Byrd* | 1991 - Loran Livingston | 2013 - Delton Alford |
| 1970 - W. E. Johnson* | 1992 - J. Patrick Daugherty | 2014 - Cyndi Howell Joiner |
| 1971 - Dora P. Meyers* | 1993 - Raymond A. Conn/ Gary Sharp* | 2015 - Claire Sanger |
| 1972 - Ray H. Hughes, Sr.* | 1994 - Dennis McGuire | 2016 - Nathan Chapman |
| 1973 - J. H. Walker, Jr.* | 1995 - Mark Harris | 2017 - Alisa White |
| 1974 - Odine Morse* | 1996 - Robert J. Jenkins | 2018 - Patricia Carroll |
| 1975 - Bill Higginbotham* | 1997 - Bill F. Sheeks* | 2019 - Danny Murray |
| 1976 - Ralph E. Williams* | 1998 - C. Dewayne Knight | 2020 - Stephanie Taylor |
| 1977 - Jerry Lambert | 1999 - Raymond Culpepper | 2021 - Steve Black |
| 1978 - Charles Paul Conn | 2000 - Bill Balzano | 2022 - Christopher Camp |
| 1979 - Cecil B. Knight* | 2001 - Marty Smith | 2023 - Jessica Juarez |
| 1980 - Bennie S. Triplett* | 2002 - Donald Price | 2024- Bruce Deel |
| 1981 - Zeno C. Tharp* | 2003 - David Black | * indicates deceased alumnus |