Don Kelso of Coahoma was an All-American defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets in 1979 who would go on to sign free agent contracts with the Houston Oilers and Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. After redshirting his freshman year in 1975, Kelso would start at offensive guard for Howard Payne for two seasons, earning Second Team All-Lone Star Conference honors. Kelso then moved to defense in his junior and senior seasons in 1978 and 1979. He was second team All-LSC as a junior and first team All-LSC to go with his NAIA All-American honor as a senior. A 1980 graduate of HPU with a degree in history, he went into coaching as a defensive coordinator in Texas with stints in McCamey, Crosbyton, Jacksboro and Big Spring, where he retired.