Mississippi’s Greatest Athletes: Meridian’s Lindy Callahan

Lindy Gene Thomas Callahan was named in honor of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight and Gene Tunney’s heavyweight title victory, both of which happened the year he was born (1927).

Lindy Callahan
Photo courtesy Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

He was born in Vicksburg and raised in Meridian, where he was a standout at Meridian High in football, track and field and boxing. Callahan then went to Ole Miss, where he played football and baseball for Hall of Famers John Vaught and Tom Swayze, respectively.

After a short professional baseball career, Callahan went into coaching at Gulfport High, where he became a fixture. He served as athletic director, head football coach, head baseball coach (1955-1965) and as athletic director until 1992. Callahan was a championship-winning football and baseball coach, but really made his mark as a sports administrator.

He was selected the National Athletic Director of the Year by the National High School Athletic Director Federation in 1986. The weight room at Gulfport High School and the football playing field in Joseph W. Milner Stadium are named in honor of Lindy Callahan.

Courtesy of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum director Rick Cleveland, author of Mississippi’s Greatest Athletes. Cleveland can be reached at rcleveland@msfame.com.