Melvin "Mel" Milton Sinquefield

"A native of Laurel, MS and a longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Mel passed away on February 25, 2017 at age of 88. He is survived by his current wife, Mary Ann Sinquefield, his previous wife and mother of his children, Laralei Jones Ammons; his three children, Melvin Sinquefield, Jr. (Karen), Kenneth Sinquefield (Antoinette), and Donna Sinquefield McInnis (Charles McInnis, Jr.). Also, 11 grandchildren: Jacob McInnis (Carrie), Chase Sinquefield (Jamie), Oliver Sinquefield, Samuel Sinquefield, Brittney (Chris Clement), Bryson, Briana (Dane Truelson), Brenner, Brogan, Bronwyn, and Bridgett Sinquefield, and 3 great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Graham McInnis, and Liam Sinquefield; and sister Mary S. Hodges. Predeceased by Harvey B. Sinquefield (father), Mary Alice Castanedo Sinquefield (mother), H. B. Sinquefield, Jr. (brother), Clair Sinquefield Kelly (sister). Mel grew up in Laurel and Gulfport, MS where he began to love the game of football. He developed into a star center, being named High School All Big Eight, and earned a scholarship to Ole Miss in 1949. He was named the Top-Rated Center in the Southeastern Conference and was rewarded with a position on the roster in the North/South Shriners and Senior Bowl in 1952. Mel's professional playing career lasted just one year with the Dallas Texans because of a career-ending injury. Mel was a successful high school football coach in Mississippi (Vicksburg, Greenville and Clarksdale) and at Istrouma High and Broadmoor High in Baton Rouge, and was part of state championship teams (St. Joseph's High (Greenville, MS) and Istrouma). His college coaching career included Vanderbilt University and Tennessee Tech. He had a Master's degree in Education and advanced degrees in Guidance and Psychology. He finished his career as counselor at the Baton Rouge Vo-Tech School, where he enjoyed working with the people and helping others. Mel enjoyed golf in his later years and won a Bronze Medal in the Senior Olympics. And he always enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He spent numerous hours studying the history of the Southern United States and said he was "an American by birth, and a Southerner by the grace of God." Visiting will be on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home (825 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802) from 9am until the Funeral Service at 11am. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport, MS. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Mel's life motto was "Never Give Up, Fight to the End."