Rarely can one find great things in the wake of a tremendous natural disaster. At the time, little did anyone know the impact Hurricane Camille, which struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1969, would have on — of all things — the lives of young Natchez-area youth.

Former Cathedral School coach and math teacher Ken Beesley was called up to help others in the National Guard make order in the wake of the disaster. At the time, the young Mississippi State University graduate was planning to return to school to further his education. When he received a call from Cathedral, his plans changed, setting forth what would become a multi-generational Beesley dynasty at Cathedral.

Last week the decades of work Beesley devoted to his work at Cathedral were rewarded as he was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame.

With more than 200 football coaching wins and more than 400 baseball coaching wins under his belt, the honor is clearly well deserved.

We congratulate Beesley, his family and the greater Cathedral family for the honor.

Beesley would be among the first to say he couldn’t have made such career milestones without a loving and supportive family helping him.

The impact he’s made on the lives of the young men and women he coached and taught in the classroom is far greater than any award can showcase.

Congratulations, Coach Beesley.