2000 - 2010 Faulkner University
5345 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109 334.272.5820 or 800.879.9816 Privacy / Legal
Web site Powered by ActiveCampusTM Software by LiquidMatrix
News
Home > News Archive> News Story
Faulkner to Name Football Field in Memory of John Mark Stallings
Dr. Billy Hilyer announced plans to name the future Faulkner University Eagles football field in memory of John Mark Stallings, son of University of Alabama coach Gene Stallings. John Mark died Aug. 2 in Paris, Texas, at the age of 46.
Plans were already in effect to name the field for John Mark before his sudden death. Hilyer, a long-time friend of the Stallings family, wanted to name the field in honor of John Mark as a tribute to Coach Stallings who has been a University supporter, speaking at the 1999 Benefit Dinner and serving as consultant and mentor for the new football program. With Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings's permission, the football field's name was about to be announced when the younger Stallings passed away of heart failure.
Born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, John Mark enjoyed a constant and unique relationship with his father in the sports world becoming as well-known as his national championship-winning father. "His sweet spirit and innocence of character were cause for affection, and his pervading sense of all that was right gave those who knew him the knowledge that Johnny was not of this world, but was destined for a better place where his perfect spirit would join a perfect body," states his obituary.
Faulkner has begun a campaign to raise $600,000 for the field as part of the $2 million stadium. With the completion of the fieldhouse, The John Mark Stallings Field, according to Hilyer, is the second of three steps towards bringing on-campus football to the University by the 2009 season.
In addition to the Faulkner field being named in his memory, The equipment room at the University of Alabama athletic facility was named The John Mark Stallings Equipment Room, and the playground at the R.I.S.E. program at the University of Alabama was christened The John Mark Stallings Playground.
Hilyer travelled to Texas to pay his respects to the Stallings family. "Coach Stallings means a lot to the people of Alabama and has supported our university in many ways," Hilyer said. "Everybody loved Johnny. He was a remarkable person."
Plans were already in effect to name the field for John Mark before his sudden death. Hilyer, a long-time friend of the Stallings family, wanted to name the field in honor of John Mark as a tribute to Coach Stallings who has been a University supporter, speaking at the 1999 Benefit Dinner and serving as consultant and mentor for the new football program. With Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings's permission, the football field's name was about to be announced when the younger Stallings passed away of heart failure.
Born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, John Mark enjoyed a constant and unique relationship with his father in the sports world becoming as well-known as his national championship-winning father. "His sweet spirit and innocence of character were cause for affection, and his pervading sense of all that was right gave those who knew him the knowledge that Johnny was not of this world, but was destined for a better place where his perfect spirit would join a perfect body," states his obituary.
Faulkner has begun a campaign to raise $600,000 for the field as part of the $2 million stadium. With the completion of the fieldhouse, The John Mark Stallings Field, according to Hilyer, is the second of three steps towards bringing on-campus football to the University by the 2009 season.
In addition to the Faulkner field being named in his memory, The equipment room at the University of Alabama athletic facility was named The John Mark Stallings Equipment Room, and the playground at the R.I.S.E. program at the University of Alabama was christened The John Mark Stallings Playground.
Hilyer travelled to Texas to pay his respects to the Stallings family. "Coach Stallings means a lot to the people of Alabama and has supported our university in many ways," Hilyer said. "Everybody loved Johnny. He was a remarkable person."
