Faith

For Don Kessinger, life is all about priorities. In Forrest City, Arkansas, at the early age of 12, Don set Jesus Christ as his number one priority by putting his faith in Him. He’s since proceeded to build his family, career and legacy upon this foundation of faith. As Don would say, when Christ is your first priority, everything else falls into place.

Character

Don Kessinger is an Ole Miss legend with stats that still hold up today. However, when people describe Don, it’s his humility they mention first. According to former Ole Miss Athletic Director Pete Boone, “You get in a conversation with Don, and you can’t really say much to him about him. He’s going to turn it around, and all of a sudden, it’s about you.” His commitment to family is also on full display, whether its devotion to his wife of 56 years, Carolyn, or showing up for and supporting his sons and grandson in their own sports careers.

Achievements

Sports and Don Kessinger go hand in hand. His competitive nature led him to All-Conference, All-SEC and All-America honors in both baseball and basketball during his time at Ole Miss. Soon after college, he was signed by the Chicago Cubs, where he played for 11 years before joining the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by the Chicago White Sox. In his 16-year Major League career, Don played in 2,078 games and was a six-time All-Star, winning two Gold Gloves and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. Following his professional career, Don came back to his Oxford roots, coaching the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team for six years and leading them to four 30-win seasons and a school record for wins.

Professional Career

• 2x Gold Glove Winner
• 6x MLB All-Star
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Recipient
• Danny Thomas Memorial Award Recipient for Exemplary Christian Spirit in MLB

Coaching Career

• 1995: Led the Rebels to First 40-Win Season and First NCAA Regional Berth Since 1977

Beginnings

Don’s involvement with FCA began during his professional baseball career in Chicago. While playing for the Cubs, Don was asked to be a member of the charter board that established an adult chapter of FCA. Due to his prior involvement with FCA in Chicago, Don was asked to be on the charter board of FCA in Oxford while he was coaching the Rebels in the ‘90s. Starting FCA in Oxford and at Ole Miss gave people a platform for sharing their faith while enjoying the sports they love.

Impact

Don quickly saw the influence FCA had, not only in the lives of those they tried to reach, but even more so in his own. FCA surrounds you with people who help hold you accountable and remind you of what really matters in life. It also gives you peace of mind that the world doesn’t revolve around your sport or your performance. In the words of Don, “In the end, win or lose, the game’s not what’s really important. My life in sports would’ve been a lot harder for me if I didn’t know the battles were already won.”

Legacy

The Don Kessinger Society honors the legacy of who Don Kessinger is and the work he’s done through Ole Miss FCA. By supporting FCA at Ole Miss, the work Don and so many others have put in over the years will continue to see fruit. At the end of the day, Don Kessinger hopes to be remembered the most for the way he lived and the example he set.

“When I’m gone, I truly hope people can think of me and say, ‘There was something different about him.’ And what was different about him was Him.” - Don Kessinger