HAMMOND – T.C. Calmes, a former Southeastern Louisiana University football All-American and collegiate coach at Southeastern and Nicholls State, passed away on Wednesday. He was 72.
Friends will be received on Sunday from 5-10 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Hammond. Services will be held in the funeral home chapel, on Monday, at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow in the Johnson Cemetery in Tickfaw.
Calmes, a Hammond native, played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Lions from 1957-1960 under legendary coach Stan Galloway. In 1960, Calmes helped the Lions to a 9-1 record and the Gulf States Conference championship and was selected to the Williamson Mid-Bracket All-American team and was a second-team All-Gulf States Conference selection.
From 1980-82, he served as the Lions' defensive line coach and defensive coordinator under head coach Oscar Lofton. In Southeastern's first game as a Division I school, Calmes' defense helped shut down eventual national champion Boise State, 17-13. Southeastern finished with an 8-2 record in 1980 and 8-3 in 1981.
Calmes was inducted into the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 and would later play a part in the restoration of the program in 2003, serving as President of the Southeastern Football Players Association.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” Calmes said during the press conference announcing the return of football on May 21, 2001. “Many people have worked hard for many years to bring football back to this stadium. There are going to be a lot of happy people in these seats in 2003.”
Before his return to Hammond, Calmes spent eight seasons as an assistant at Nicholls State, including the last six as defensive coordinator. Calmes also served as the Colonels' baseball coach, twice leading his team to conference titles and compiling a 152-124 record.
Calmes coached for 11 years in the high school ranks including his alma mater, Hammond High School, along with stints at Baton Rouge High, Glen Oaks and Tara, where he led the Trojans to a pair of state playoff appearances.
Calmes spent the last 12 years working in the Juvenile Intervention Program with the 21th Judicial District Attorney's office helping troubled kids.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Joiner-Calmes, two sons Tim, and his wife Anne Lagattuta-Calmes and Terry, and his wife Christina Eldridge-Calmes, five grandchildren, Grayson, Brit, Bradley, Holly and Robert, also, by his younger brother Jim Calmes, and his wife Norma, and sister Linda Calmes-Lester.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Southeastern Athletic Association (SAA)
SLU Box 10309
Hammond, LA 70404
Attn: Anna
Please note: "for T.C Calmes in lieu of" in the memo area.
