Dr. Lee Netherton graduated from John Brown University in 1963 with a chemistry degree and earned his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Arkansas.

Primarily a three-year letterman in men's basketball, Netherton also ran track for a pair of seasons. He was also a member of the men's basketball 1962 CASC championship team while also running the 100-yard dash. Netherton was part of the 220, 440 and 880-yard relay teams.

Netherton served as the department of athletics' Faculty Athletics Representative for 10 years while assisting the scoring table at basketball games by operating the scoreboard for over 40 years.

Netherton retired in 2005 after a 30-year teaching career in which he finished as a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry.