Charles Ross Gwinn

A funeral Mass for Charles Ross Gwinn will be Friday, Feb. 5 at Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church at 11 a.m. with visitation held for one hour prior. There will be a Rosary at the church Thursday at 7 p.m. Ross passed away Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. He was born in Deport, Texas July 25, 1944, the son of Helen Welch and Pearl Oscar Gwinn. Ross attended Natchitoches High School where he excelled in football and basketball. He was awarded a football scholarship to play for Northwestern State University and in 1966 was a member of NSU's undefeated football team. He was recognized as one of the Top 100 Greatest Players at NSU, and was named All-Gulf States Conference in both 1965 and 1966. Upon graduation in 1966, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts under the leadership of Don Shula. He also played for the New Orleans Saints and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Ross was the owner of Ross Gwinn Landscape for over 35 years. He was a volunteer football coach at St. Mary's High School from 2000-2014. Ross loved mentoring and teaching young men the sport of football. He was a member of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church. He was preceded in death by his parents. Ross is survived by his wife Toni Brabner Gwinn; three daughters Paige Maddox and her husband Bart and grandchildren Lee, Beau and Molly; Staci Cornelius and her husband Henry and granddaughter Hannah; and Juliet Harkes and grandsons Austin and Jordan; brother, Ronnie Gwinn and his wife Becky; nephews, Paul and Payton Gwinn. Pallbearers will be Corwyn Aldredge Jr., Gary DeBlieux, Steve Brown, Ronald Corkern, James Cade, Wayne Walker, Dick Redding, Steven Kautz, Joe Bienvenu, Lovick Johnson,Charlie Brittain, and Russel Bienvenu. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Mary's Tigers Athletic Association or to the Northwestern State University Athletic Association.