Passing of John Mark "Johnny" Stallings: Son of football coach Gene Stallings'57

CLASSMATE NEWS - Gene Stallings '57 PLEASE READ ENTIRE STORY AT: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/obituaries/stories/080508dnmetstallingsobit.4219912.html "John Mark "Johnny" Stallings: Son of football coach Gene Stallings dies at 46 07:50 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News jsimnacher@dallasnews.com John Mark "Johnny" Stallings defied the expectations of both his lifespan and his likely impact on the world following his 1962 birth. Doctors told his father, Gene Stallings – then an up-and-coming football coach – that his baby had Down syndrome and wasn't likely to live to his 5th birthday. Johnny not only lived nearly 10 times longer, he did so with a caring flair that seemed to capture the hearts and minds of people he met throughout his life. He developed legions of friends and created good will as he moved with his father's legendary career – which included coaching national champion Alabama and the Aggies, and serving as a Cowboys' assistant. Mr. Stallings, 46, died Saturday at Paris Regional Medical Center of a congenital heart condition related to Down syndrome. Services will be at 5 p.m. today at Lamar Avenue Church of Christ in Paris, Texas. He will be buried at Hike-A-Way Ranch, his family's home in nearby Powderly, Texas. Johnny had his photo taken with three presidents. Mr. Stallings was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where his father was an assistant football coach at the University of Alabama. The family later moved to College Station so his father could coach the Aggies. In addition to his father and sister, Mr. Stallings is survived by his mother, Ruth Ann Stallings, also of Powderly; three other sisters, Anna Lee Young of Heath, Jackie Chalk of Argyle, and Martha Kate Gunn of Waco." JST-NOTE: In 2007, The Class of '57 established a Class Endowed Scholarship in Johhny's name at our 50th reunion. Please contact your Class agent, John Hopkins re: making your new memorial gift!