Gene Stallings remains a hero in Alabama and at Texas A&M. He won a national championship coaching at Alabama in 1992, the first since the retirement and death of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He starred as a player at Texas A&M under Bryant’s coaching there, including surviving Bryant’s notorious “Junction Boys” camp. He was later head coach at A&M from 1965-1971.
Stallings was more than a winning college football coach. He taught and spread character. compassion and leadership.
Now, the Stallings story is capsulized into a film. "The Stallings Standard" previews on Friday at the Oxford Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the door or here.
Stalling remains alive and well, living with his wife Ruth Ann in Powderly, Texas, near Paris. They lost their special needs son John Mark, who died in 2008.
The venue for the Stallings film was an unused historic building that the City of Oxford turned into OPAC. The classic building, located in historic downtown Oxford, had been a city hall, fire station and city jail. Now, it's a 1,200-seat performing arts theater.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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