Lori Willis-White, Class of 1988, was a multi-sport athlete for the Vikings in basketball and soccer, but during her time at Lakeside she was most-competitive on the soccer pitch. She was named the most-valuable defensive player and was included in the DeKalb All-County team in her junior and senior seasons. Following her time as a Viking, she attended Erskine College in South Carolina where she played soccer for one season before transferring to Georgia State where she played for the Panthers’ women’s soccer club in 1990 and 1991. After graduation, she began teaching at J.C. Booth Middle School in Peachtree City, while simultaneously taking over as a JV soccer coach at nearby McIntosh High School. In her second year, she was promoted to the varsity head coach at McIntosh where she led the Chiefs to back-to-back state championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1994, she was named the AJC Coach of the Year. She stepped away from coaching in 1996 and earned a Master’s in Middle Grade Math at Georgia State and moved to Loganville where she and her husband raised three children. She returned to coaching in 2007 to build the George Walton Academy soccer program and teach math. In 2008, her middle school team went undefeated and in 2009 she started the varsity program. She retired from coaching in 2010 to focus on teaching and family.
Steve Dunbar, Class of 1984, was a prolific soccer player for the Vikings. He began his Lakeside soccer career as a “sub-freshman” and played five years for the Vikings, culminating in a 17-1 senior season and state runner-up finish. His play earned him the Viking Award for his commitment on and off the pitch. Dunbar attended Wake Forest University following his graduation from Lakeside and earned a spot on the soccer team where he played midfielder and defender for three seasons. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration, he continued playing soccer at the amateur level with Mo’s Coyotes and VG. Dunbar and his wife Angela have three children, Michael (21), Ryan (20), and Whitney (8) and they have raised their children in the Lakeside community—allowing Dunbar to remain active in the soccer community by coaching his two sons and many other future Viking players over a 15-year span. Dunbar served on the Booster Club’s Board of Directors, and was instrumental in recruiting Merck Smith, fellow Lakeside Hall of Famer, back to Lakeside as its head coach. Dunbar remains active in the soccer community by serving on the board of directors for the Father Christmas Cup, an annual charity soccer tournament raising money for local families who have recently lost a parent. This year marks Dunbar’s 50th consecutive year playing soccer, most of those with his fellow Lakeside teammates.
Alan Smith, Class of 1974, was a multi-sport athlete for the Vikings, playing on the soccer, football and track teams. On the pitch, he played center fullback and center midfielder and was known for his playmaking and endurance as he started every varsity game from his freshman to senior year. On the football field, Smith played defensive back and kicked extra points during his senior season. The highlight of Smith’s soccer career at Lakeside was the 1974 season that saw the Vikings go on an amazing run to claim the state title. The team finished the season with a flawless 14-0-0 record and outscored opponents 88-11 throughout the year. After graduating from Lakeside, Smith accepted a soccer scholarship to Brevard Junior College in North Carolina, and later attended the University of Georgia in Athens. It was there that he met his wife Tina, with whom he stayed in Athens for 15 years working as an office manager for Northeast Sales Distributing, Inc. Smith now lives with Tina in Canton, Georgia near their two children, Patrick and Kelly, and their four grandchildren. He is now retired and spends his days hiking, camping and canoeing Georgia’s rivers. After playing in multiple amateur leagues during his adult life, Smith’s passion for soccer remains as strong as ever.
The Lakeside High School Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the rich history and achievements of high school athletes who graduated from Lakeside High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
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