1996 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | BURCHELL STALLARD
Stallard attended Coeburn (Virginia) High School where he played football under Star Wood, who later coached for Milligan. At the urging of Milligan Coach Steve Lacy, Stallard played football for the Milligan Buffaloes. He was a guard and captain of the undefeated football team that went to the Burley Bowl and also served as captain of the track team.
In 1943, Stallard received a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree from Milligan in biology. He later received his master’s from Vanderbilt-Peabody in Nashville, Tennessee, and did additional graduate work at Oxford and the University of Virginia.
During World War II, Stallard was a member of the Ninth Air Force and 442nd Troop Carrier Group which led the Normandy Invasion and dropped supplies at the Battle of the Bulge. At the request of General Patton, his group presented the American flag to the mayor of St. Andre, France, during liberation ceremonies.
Stallard returned home to teach and coach at several Virginia schools over the years including Grundy, Big Stone Gap and Powell Valley high schools. He became the first driver education teacher in Wise County, Virginia, and served as principal of Coeburn Elementary School and assistant principal at Wise County Vocational-Technical School.
Stallard and his wife currently reside in Wise, Virginia.
On July 4, 1993, Stallard received one of his greatest honors when over 300 former students and athletes in a caravan of more than 80 cars were escorted by police from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, to Stallard's home in Wise for a surprise picnic. Students from as far as California and Europe traveled to this special event in honor of their former teacher and coach.
"It is regrettable that every awkward, confused teenager in America doesn't have an example such as you," praised one former student.
Stallard's simple yet endearing response to the day's tribute was, "To be honored in such a manner while still alive means much!"