Tommie Lindsey Biography

1951—

Teacher, forensics coach

Considered one of the country's top forensics coaches, Tommie Lindsey has taught countless public high school students to achieve success as public speakers and to use these skills to help build satisfying college and professional careers. While debate teams have traditionally attracted students from elite schools, Lindsey has made his inner-city public school team—with a diverse student membership and limited budget—a force to reckon with. As of 2004, his students had won six consecutive National Forensics League School of Excellence awards and four California High School Speech Association championships. In 2004 Lindsey received a prestigious MacArthur fellowship in recognition of creativity in his field.