Athletic Hall of Fame
Donald (Don) L. Kell, ’53 – Kell lettered in football and baseball for four years each and basketball for two years. His Cougar career followed his time with the Concordia High School team, through which he became one of just two players to represent the Private School League in the 1948 Chicago Herald-American Prep Baseball Classic at Wrigley Field. He declined opportunities with both the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants systems, enrolling in the college instead. As a Cougar, Kell batted over .300 and played both shortstop and pitcher.
Kell co-captained the football team and was a standout blocker, receiver and kicker, earning all-conference honors in the 1949 season.
Upon graduation, Kell declined a professional football tryout with the Los Angeles Rams and accepted the call to serve as a teacher, coach and athletic director at Trinity in St. Joseph, Michigan. In 1957, he returned to Illinois where he taught and served as principal at Immanuel Lutheran in Dundee for 11 years.
Kell has contributed in many administrative capacities within the LCMS educational system. They include a time as first an assistant and then Superintendent of Education in the Michigan District (1968-94) and a term as President of the Lutheran Education Association (1974-76). Kell served in other volunteer leadership positions, including President of the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools (1975-94) and as founding member and Chairman of the Detroit Urban Lutheran Schools (1972-94).
Kell earned his B.S. in education in 1953. He also received from Concordia his M.A. in education in 1966 and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1986.
