Hall of Fame
A graduate of Perkinston High School, Blackwell enjoyed a very successful athletic career. From 1944 to 1947, he played left guard for the legendary Coach Johnny Vaught and was the only Ole Miss player ever to start in every game all four years. For his outstanding play, Blackwell was named All-American in 1947 and signed a professional contract with the New York Giants in 1948. He was also a member of the Rebel baseball, basketball and track squads.
After finishing his education at the University of Mississippi, Blackwell served as the head football coach at Northwest from 1948 to 1950. At age 21, he was the youngest head football coach in junior college history. His other coaching assignments came at West Tallahatchie, Greenville, and Pascagoula high schools before becoming an assistant football coach at Mississippi College from 1959 to 1972.
He served as executive secretary of the Mississippi Association of Coaches from 1963 to 1991 and was instrumental in forming the MAC Hall of Fame. During this time, the membership grew from 300 to over 2,000. He remained at Mississippi College as an assistant to the president through 1976 and was director of Alumni Affairs until his death on Sept. 13, 1993. He was honored at the Ole Miss vs. UT-Chattanooga game on Sept. 11.
