For former alabama football coach gene stallings, world down syndrome day is an important date on the calendar. John mark stallings, 19622008 university of alabama athletics. Cause of death was a congenital heart condition associated with down syndrome. In one of their final conversations, as johnny struggled mightily for each breath, gene sat on his sons.
According to published reports by the tuscaloosa news, john mark stallings has passed away im sure most of you remember john mark very well. But in 1962, as a young protege and assistant under alabamas legendary coach paul bear bryant, stallings was handed one of the greatest challenges of his life. Gene stallings 1935 was a football player and coach who is best known as the head football coach at the university of alabama who led the crimson tide to an undefeated season and national championship in 1992. A coachs story of raising an exceptional son 1997, with sally cook new.
Coach stallings weaves together two stories john marks life and his own career as a football coach. John mark stallings, 19622008 university of alabama. Aug 02, 2008 according to published reports by the tuscaloosa news, john mark stallings has passed away im sure most of you remember john mark very well. He stood at the podium on friday morning needing no introduction. Tuscaloosa coach gene stallings book about raising a child with down syndrome has been reissued in paperback with a new section about the death of his son, john mark stallings. Gene stallings talks about his son john mark stallings on march 15th 2010 at hut stuff in hueytown alabama. But youll close the book probably in one sitting with a greater appreciation for your own life, not to mention the wonderful life john mark stallings was given. Then gene stallings immediately began speaking about his son, john mark, who also needed no introduction. The day, observed on march 21, draws attention to those with down syndrome. Coach gene stallings remembers johnny on world down. A coachs story of raising an exceptional son isbn 0316811963 with ap journalist sally cook, which described his love for his son, john mark stallings, who was born with down syndrome. Coach gene stallings updates book with sons death news. Oct 17, 2008 coach gene stallings and his son johnny photos courtesy of paul w.
Another season as coach of the university of alabamas powerhouse crimson tide football team, gene stallings encountered plenty of tough situations on the field. Football legend would pick his down syndrome son over normal. Feb 03, 2019 and stallings son, john mark, was born with down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, conditions that inspired his father to become involved in projects promoting improved education and. Oct 06, 2012 former university of alabama football coach gene stallings looks at a bronze statue of his late son, john mark stallings as he speaks during faulkner universitys dedication ceremony for john mark stallings field friday in montgomery, ala. Oct, 2009 sally cook, the coauthor of another season, about coach gene stallings and his son john mark, talks with roll bama roll about the rerelease of the book this month. Gene stallings was born march 2, 1935 and is a former football player and national champion head coach. Since his retirement from football, stallings has served on president george w. A coachs story of raising an exceptional son with ap journalist sally cook, which described his love for his son, john mark stallings, who was born with down syndrome. Bushs commission on intellectual disability and wrote a book about his late son, john mark, who was born with downs syndrome. John mark, who was born with downs syndrome and suffered from health problems related to a congenital heart defect, was 46. Only a handful of players survived that bootcamplike exposure which became the subject of a book and was also made into a tv movie. His heart stays warm and receptive to special needs because his son, john mark, was born with down syndrome. Coach gene stallings remembers johnny on world down syndrome. John mark, who was born with down syndrome and suffered from health.
Aug 10, 2008 john mark stallings, the son of former university of alabama head coach gene stallings and one of the most beloved members of the crimson tide football family, died saturday, august 2, in paris, texas, at age 46. Johnny was born on june 11, 1962 in tuscaloosa, al, the son of gene and ruth ann stallings. Most of you do not know anything about john mark stallings. The doctors didnt expect johnny to live past his first year. At the same time, hes both a son of aggieland and a son of alabama. His son, john mark was born with trisomy 21, down syndrome, and gene stallings has a school for children with disabilities named after him on the university of alabama campus, for which he hosts a charity golf tournament every year. Interment rites will follow at hikeaway ranch in powderly, tx.
Nov 09, 2009 stallings updates book after sons death. Aug 05, 2008 johnnys four brothersinlaw, tim, david, john and keith will also participate in the service. John mark stallings, the son of former university of alabama head coach gene stallings and one of the most beloved members of the crimson tide football family, died saturday, august 2, in paris, texas, at age 46. Gene stallings, the coach of alabama, had a son with down syndrome. Coach gene stallings hugs his son, johnny, who died in 2008. The book fascinated me from many angles as a teacher, as the sister of someone born with a congenital handicap whose parents were likewise advised to put him in an institution, as a reader of this genre of literature, and most of all, as someone who as a kid knew and adored john mark stallings. Starrett funeral home will conduct funeral services at 5 p. Mar 15, 2010 gene stallings talks about his son john mark stallings on march 15th 2010 at hut stuff in hueytown alabama. Coach gene stallings and his son johnny photos courtesy of paul w. Football legend would pick his down syndrome son over. John mark stallings, son of former university of alabama head football coach gene stallings, died early saturday morning.
Tuesday, august 5th, 2008 at the lamar avenue church of christ, paris, tx, with patrick cannon and johnnys former minister, george bailey, officiating. Aug 11, 1997 you dont have to know anything about gene and ruth ann stallings before you read this book. Former alabama football coach gene stallings had a son, john mark, who had down syndrome. Stallings updates book after sons death news tuscaloosa. As coach of the university of alabamas powerhouse crimson tide football team, gene stallings encountered plenty of tough situations on the field.
Gene stallings 2010 hall of fame national football. A coachs story of raising an exceptional son, which. I would highly recommend this to anyone, young or old. Mack brown, gene stallings look to win big for special. Gene stallings, john marks father, discussed what it was like to raise a child with down syndrome at the time, in the book another season. Aug 04, 2008 dateline interviews the stallings and their lives with their son. And stallings son, john mark, was born with down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, conditions that inspired his father to become involved. Gene stallings involvement in the disability community, has also been strong. Gene stallingss biography legendary university of alabama. Stallings, john mark age 46 of powderly, left his earthly life on saturday, august 2, 2008 at paris regional medical center. As the son of gene stallings, he was always a high. Tuesday august 5th, 2008 at the lamar avenue church of christ, paris, texas, with patrick cannon and johnnys former minister george bailey officiating.
Ive known john mark stallings his entire life, said mal moore, director of athletics at the university of alabama. Traditionally he is regarded as identical with mark the evangelist, the traditional writer of the gospel of mark. What a testament to a fathers love for his incredible son. Stallings coached firstteam allamerica players during his head coaching career. Coach stallings weaves together two stories john mark s life and his own career as a football coach. Aug 02, 2008 gene stallings, john marks father, discussed what it was like to raise a child with down syndrome at the time, in the book another season. Its named for john mark stallings, the coachs son who was born with down syndrome and died in 2008. Gene stallings tells moving story about late son john mark. He describes all the emotions that he and his wife experienced as parents and tells how other people reacted to john mark.
Gene stallings talks about his son john mark stallings. Montgomery, alabama they will now forever walk handinhand. Statue of gene stallings, late son john mark unveiled at. The last of five children and the only son born to gene and ruth ann stallings, john mark often joined his. Coach stallings gives a very open and honest account about life with his son, john mark, who was born with down syndrome. Starrett funeral home will conduct funeral services at 5.
A coachs story of raising an exceptional son with ap journalist sally cook, which described his love for his son. Another season by gene stallings goodreads share book. Hire gene to meet and mingle with your best customers, clients and employees. In 1997, stallings cowrote a book with author sally cook, another season. Gene stallings speakers bureau and booking agent info. The christian chronicle, aug 2008 john mark stallings, the son of college and professional football coaching great gene stallings and his wife ruth ann, died aug. John mark stallings 19622008 find a grave memorial. He stayed with jesus and the apostles during the dark days of holy week, and was present for some of jesus resurrection appearances as well. John mark stallings, 46, of powderly, left his earthly life on saturday august 2, 2008 at paris regional medical center. The occasion was the opening of a special needs playground in hartselle, a festive event. Gene stallings, john mark s father, discussed what it was like to raise a child with down syndrome at the time, in the book another season. Gene stallings tells moving story about late son john mark at. His purpose for writing another season was to show the people in the world, who have children with down syndrome, that even though its tough you cant give up. In recent years, gene has shared that as the end of john marks life approached, it became tremendously difficult for the young man to breathe.
John mark stallings, the son of former university of alabama head coach gene stallings and one of the most beloved members of the crimson tide football family, died saturday in paris, texas, at age 46. As a result of caring for their son john mark usually called johnny, who was born with down syndrome and a heart defect, stallings and his wife became active in promoting awareness about the needs of developmentally disabled individuals. Dateline interviews the stallings and their lives with their son. John mark is named in the acts of the apostles as an assistant accompanying paul and barnabas on their missionary journeys. Alabama coach gene stallings needed no urging to participate. But he says raising his son johnny was his greatest reward. Sally cook, the coauthor of another season, about coach gene stallings and his son john mark, talks with roll bama roll about the rerelease of the book this month. The playground at the school is called the john mark stallings playground. Coach stallings has been known to reach out to new parents of babies with down syndrome and write to them as they begin the journey raising a child with a disability.
He and my dad have the same wonderful relationship as john mark and coach stallings did. Stallings compiled an official record at alabama of 6225 70161 if the 1993 forfeits are disregarded. But he happens to be a true hero of the sport of college football. No, not legendary coach gene stallings, but for his son. A coachs story of raising an exceptional son 9780316811965 by stallings, gene. Cook, sally and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Former university of alabama football coach gene stallings looks at a bronze statue of his late son, john mark stallings as he speaks during faulkner universitys dedication ceremony for john mark stallings field friday in montgomery, ala. Another season remembering john mark stallings youtube. Gene stallingss official website legendary university. John stallings obituary nashville, tn the tennessean.
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