Remembering teammates Tim Lee and Dwight Madison Jr., who passed away just days apart, takes us back to the days of Alabama Christian College basketball in Tine Davis Gym—before the school was renamed Faulkner University.
Teammate and lifelong friend Lewis “Teddy” Washington recalled, “Tim and Dwight were part of the original transition basketball team that moved Alabama Christian College from a junior college program to a four-year institution. They were both part of the first four-year graduating class in 1983. They set the bar for the rest of us on the basketball team to prove that we could compete on the court and leave 5345 Atlanta Highway with a degree that would allow us to compete in the world. I thank the Lord for those two guys being a part of my life.”
Washington shared that his friendship with Lee began long before college. “I met Tim when I was in the 10th grade at an ACC basketball camp. We had no idea we would become teammates. Our bond really began in September of 1980, and for 45 years we remained the best of friends—joking, praying, and sharing our thoughts about life and family,” he said.
“Tim often credited me with setting him up with his wife, Sharon,” Washington added with a smile. “It didn’t hurt that she was from Wetumpka, and so was I. That helped the Ragin’ Cajun break through that cultural divide between big-city Baton Rouge and small-town Wetumpka. Tim never met a stranger. He had enough love for everyone, and we all loved him back.”
Washington also reflected on his memories of Dwight Madison, saying, “When Dwight joined the basketball team, not much was known about him, but he quickly earned his place on the team and in the hearts of fans. He was a sight to behold when he’d grab the ball and hit one of his quick jumpers or surprise a defender with a dunk. His care for teammates, especially the underclassmen, was genuine. He was the consummate teammate who always put the team first.”
Washington said Madison also encouraged his teammates spiritually. “He pushed us to attend chapel and Bible study. In recent years, we reconnected, and the laughter and memories rejuvenated us both. I spoke to him four days before his death, and his greeting with our nicknames was still the same after 45 years: ‘What’s this, Blois?’ My reply was the same: ‘What’s this, Buddy?’”
Ken Bush, team manager and Lee’s college roommate, described Lee as “Mr. Hustle.” “Tim was one of the hardest-working players on the team,” Bush said. “He was always encouraging everyone. He was competitive, even off the court playing Spades in the dorms. He loved his vinyl record albums and often played ‘Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight’ and ‘Celebration’ by Kool & The Gang after basketball and flag football games.”
Bush recalled that Madison lived next door in Baldwin Dorm. “Dwight’s younger brother Delbert often came to games and spent the night in the dorms. We shared snacks and what he called ‘Gate-ade,’ which was really just Gatorade. Delbert idolized his brother, who was known for his rebounds,” Bush said.
Delbert Madison added, “The time I spent on campus was extraordinary. The way those guys on the basketball team treated me really made me feel special. Hanging out in the dorm and eating popcorn with them are memories that still stand out. Those Eagles quickly became family.”
Another team manager and roommate, Keith Cantrell, remembered Lee as a natural encourager. “As one of the team managers, I saw Tim as both a player and a friend. He gave everything he had on the court and led the student body in the famous ‘step-slide drill’ before every game,” Cantrell said. “He truly lived out Matthew 22—‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ That’s why he made friends with everyone he met.”
Scott Brooks said Lee’s influence shaped his life. “I met Tim Lee in 1982 at church in Baton Rouge. From that first handshake, there was something steady and magnetic about him,” Brooks said. “He’s the reason I went to Alabama Christian College. His faith and encouragement nudged me toward a place that would define my adult years. Coach Naylor later offered me a scholarship and made me sports information director, traveling with the team and getting to know the players.”
Brooks remembered Madison as “smooth on the court and in life—quiet, calm, steady, and good.” He said, “He was an exceptional player and a kind soul with a great smile.”
Off the court, Brooks and Lee were roommates and lifelong friends. “More than his friendship, it was Tim’s love for Jesus that impacted me most,” Brooks said. “His faith wasn’t just words—it was in how he treated people and how he helped me through my struggles. Three days before he passed, we talked about Heaven—how real and beautiful it would be. Tim was everything a true friend should be. I’ve lost my friend, but I haven’t lost what he gave me: his faith, laughter, guidance, and example.”
