News Releases: Athletics | University
M. C. Joyner, Jr., '36 (Posthumously)Mr. M. C. Joyner was born on May 11, 1911 in Tipton County, Tennessee. He attended public schools in Munford, Tennessee where he was an outstanding football and basketball player.
He completed his college career at Union University where he competed in football, basketball, and boxing. He was the MVP and captain of the 1934 and 1935 football teams. He was drafted by the New York Giants of the National Football League, but was unable to play due to a severe shoulder injury. During the spring of 1935, Mr. Joyner became friends with Paul "Bear" Bryant, who was coaching football at Union University. Over the years, Coach Bryant visited the Joyners on multiple occasions as he recruited players for Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and the University of Alabama.
In 1936 Mr. Joyner was appointed Director of Athletics, principal and head football coach at Peabody High School, Trenton, Tennessee, where he implemented the first physical education program. Mr. Joyner regularly coached state tournament bound football and basketball teams. He was the only Peabody coach to coach both a state tournament basketball team and a Big Ten Conference High School Football Championship Team in the same year.
In 1942 Mr. Joyner entered the army serving with the Combat Engineers and was highly decorated. He saw action at both the Remagen Bridge and the "Battle of the Bulge. He returned to Peabody High School and coached for one year before accepting a position at Christian Brothers College as football coach. In 1950 Mr. Joyner returned to Trenton where he operated his own hardware business until his death in 1972.
Mr. Joyner married Frances Blecher in 1947. They had three children: Edward Joyner, Beverly Joyner Wallin, and William Joyner.
Michelle Street-Czapp, '97Mentioning the name of Michelle Street (Czapp) evokes memories in the minds of Lady Bulldog Basketball fans that are sure to stimulate excitement. Michelle Street-Czapp, one of the legions of players from the Bradford Special School District, experienced consistent improvement in her play each year at Union and was a star among NAIA athletes.
A 5'9" guard, Michelle averaged 15.1 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game, leading the Lady Bulldogs in 1994-1995. In her sophomore year, she was named an All-Conference player for the TranSouth Conference as well as an NAIA All-American. She was also named to the Dick Vitale's All-American Team
In 1995-96, Michelle led Union in scoring (16.6 point per game), assists (5.2 per game) and steals (2.4 per game). During her junior year, she was named NAIA Player of the Year, and Player of the Year by College Sports Magazine. That same year, Michelle led the Lady Bulldogs to a Final Four appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
In her senior year, 1996-97, Michelle Street-Czapp once again led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with an average of 19.3 point per game and 3.4 assists. She scored the most consecutive field goals, making 16 in a row. She also scored the most points in one game, 45, bringing career total points scored to 2,359, the second highest in Union University history. That year, Michelle, was named the TranSouth Player of the Year, a Kodak All-American and to the NAIA All-Tournament Team, in addition to numerous other honors.
Michele's jersey, #00, was retired in 1997. She lives in LaVergne, Tennessee with her husband, Jerry, and 3 year old son, Anderson. She was inducted into the Gibson County Sports Hall of Fame in April 1999.
Buford Matlock, '50A Jackson, Tennessee native, Buford Matlock was born on December 20, 1924. At Jackson High School, Mr. Matlock served as co-captain of the 1942 Golden Bears football team. After graduation, he served a term of duty in the U. S. Army, playing football for the U.S. Army as starting end and running track for the U. S. team in Germany.
After World War II, Mr. Matlock returned to Jackson, Tennessee, to pursue his education at Union University, receiving his B.S. degree in 1950. He played on the university varsity football team 1946-1949, starting every game but one in his four-year career. He is the only person in Union football history to be elected captain of the team for three years in a row: 1947, 1948, and 1949.
Beginning in 1950, Mr. Matlock served a long and distinguished career as an educator and coach in the Jackson and Madison County School Systems: teaching and coaching at North Side High School for 8 years; teaching and coaching for 7 years at South Side High School; Tigrett Junior High as a teacher for 1 year, and finally as principal of Alexander Elementary School for 24 years from 1966 to 1990. From 1965-89, Mr. Matlock served as a TSSAA football official, working numerous play-off and bowl games.
Mr. Matlock has remained physically fit and active through his participation in the 1997-2001 Senior Games at the district and state level and the Jackson Recreation and Parks Senior Softball League, 2000-2007. He was inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Married to his wife, Bernice, for 60 years, the Matlocks have two children and six grandchildren. They are active members of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Luis Ortiz, '04Luis Ortiz, one of Union University's most outstanding baseball athletes, was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From an early age, Luis dreamed of playing major league baseball. However, his parents, while encouraging his lofty goal, showed him the importance of pursuing a college education, especially in a poor country like the Dominican Republic.
Entering his senior year at De La Salle Dominican High School, he attended tryouts for talented baseball players who were looking to pursue a college degree in the United States. At this point, Luis realized after the tryouts that he could pursue his dream of a college education and potentially a professional baseball career.
In the fall of 1988, Luis received a full athletic scholarship to Union University thanks to cultivation by Union baseball coach, Andy Rushing. After his junior year at Union and winning All-American honors, breaking numerous school and national records, Luis was drafted in the eighth round by the Boston Red Sox. After two full seasons in the minor leagues, Luis Ortiz achieved his dream of playing in the majors. Two years later, Luis was traded to the Texas Rangers. Luis' professional career was marked by a number of injuries but his perseverance was second to none. In all, Luis played 14 professional seasons.
Before retiring in 2004, Luis' promise to his parents was fulfilled when he returned to Union University to finish his college degree. In doing so, Luis became the first Dominican to play in the majors to graduate from college.
Currently, Luis owns Swing City at the Athletic Village, a baseball instructional facility in Keller, Texas. He has published three books in a series of 10, and has several baseball videos, while working on several inventions to improve baseball mechanics. He has not ruled out returning to organized baseball in the future as a coach.
Luis lives in North Richland Hills, Texas, with his wife, Susan, and four daughters: Gabriela, Naomi, Samantha, and Moriah.
Jeff Richey, '66Basketball began for 63 year old Jeff Richey 53 years ago in a rural grade school where only seven boys were enrolled. He moved on to "bigger and better" things at the "big" high school at Crab Orchard, Illinois, with a grades 9-12 enrollment of 125 students. Mr. Richey broke every scoring record and earned all-state and all-conference honors. He was inducted into the Illinois High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1990.
Jeff came to Union University in 1962 as a 6'4" 140-pound freshman. He added two inches and 50 pounds to that frame over the next four years, playing for coaches Jack Russell and Bill Henry.
Mr. Richey led the Bulldogs to their first ever conference title in 1964-65, under first year coach Henry. Richey earned all VSAC (Volunteer State Athletic Conference) honors three years in a row from 1963-1966; Most Valuable Player VSAC two years; and Little All-American in 1964-65 and 1965-66. Richey led the Bulldogs in rebounding, assists and in scoring for three seasons.
Richey established a new school record for field goal percentage in the 1964-65 season of 58.6% and broke Homer Spain's school record for career points scored at 1,886 in 97 games. He still holds the school's record for most free throws made in a season, shooting 88.5%, with 231 free throws.
Mr. Richey received the Fred DeLay Memorial Award for the outstanding athlete with high academic achievement and moral character. He was elected Mr. Union in 1966 and named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
After graduation Jeff was drafted by the Oakland Oaks (ABA), the only Union University player drafted by the ABA. Jeff joined the Gulf Oil Touring All-Starts in 1967-68 and toured internationally.
Jeff and his wife of 28 years, Carol, make their home in Carrier Mills, Illinois.
The Bulldogs went 22-3 in the 1967-68 season under Coach Billy Henry, the best record of any college team in Tennessee and one of the best in the nation. Union won the Western Division of the Volunteer State Athletic Conference and the VSAC tournament, the first VSAC tournament title in school history.
The team was ranked in the top 20 small colleges in the nation several times during the season.
The team’s roster included Ron Bradley, Ed Braley, Bob Crum, Dave Gray, Ken Hane, Hank Kennedy, Gary Knupp, David Lewis, David Marsh, Dan Rudesill, Lonnie Searcy, Bob Snyder and Dennis Wilson. Bob Carter was the team’s assistant coach.
