April 30, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Jimmie Keeling, who has been at the helm of the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboy program since the reinstatement of football in the fall of 1990, will be celebrating his 50th year of coaching during the 2004 season.

All former players and coaches, friends and the general public are invited to a Fifty Years of Football Tradition Dinner and reunion- reception on Saturday, May 22.

Proceeds from the events honoring the HSU coach will benefit the Jimmie Keeling Football Endowment Fund at HSU.

The event is scheduled the same day as the Letterman's Golf Tournament. The golf action will be at 8 a.m. at Diamondback Golf Course.

The reunion-reception in honor of the popular former secondary school coach and successful university-level mentor will be from 3 to 5 p.m. in the HSU's Sandefer Field House.

The dinner is planned at the Abilene Civic Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Per person cost for the dinner is $l2.50 and $25 per couple. Table sponsorships of eight will be $200.

Reservations for the dinner or the golf tournament may be made by contacting the HSU Athletic Department, 1-800-583-6622 or by mail to Hardin-Simmons University, Box 16185, Abilene, Texas 79698.

Before coming to HSU, Keeling was athletic coordinator/head football coach at John Tyler High School, Tyler. His record as a high school coach is 196 wins, 91 losses and 11 ties. He also held athletic coordinator/head football coach positions at: San Angelo Central High School, Lubbock Estacado High School (State Football championship), and Lubbock Coronado High School.

He was athletic director/head football coach at: Andrews High School, Lamar consolidated High School, Dublin High School, Elgin High School, and Tulia High School.

As a high school coach, he recorded four 10-0 seasons and one 14-0 season.

After 14 seasons at HSU he has posted an impressive 117-36 record, including eight conference championships, seven Coach of the Year honors and 17 NAIA and NCAA Division III playoff games.

In 1997, he became the school's all-time wins leader, surpassing the late Warren Woodson. When Keeling's team took the field against Chapman on Sept. 19, 1998, it was his 89th game, passing Woodson for the most games ever as an HSU coach.

He was named the American Football Coaches Association South Region Coach of the Year and American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year for the seventh time after the 2001 season.

He served for two years as Athletic Director as well as Head Football Coach at HSU. Keeling received the Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award in 2003.

As a high school coach, he recorded four 10-0 seasons and one 14-0 season.

He is a past president and director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. He has been named as Texas High School Coach of the Year by sportswriters and was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 1995.

Keeling, who is married to Susan Kay Keeling, is the parent of Dale, high school coach (Ft. Worth Everman High School); Judy (Tyler); Lisa (Albuquerque); Lana (Austin); Kelly (Graham). They have 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He is a graduate of Tarleton State University, Stephenville, and Howard Payne University, Brownwood and did advanced degree work at Texas Tech University, Lubbock.

He has served on the Rules Committee and the Nominating Committee of the American Football Coaches Association.

He and his wife are active members of Abilene's First Baptist Church.