Gene Stallings was one of two Paris High School left ends who would greatly impact football - the other was Raymond Berry. Stallings, a sophomore survivor of Bear Bryant's Aggie training camp at Junction in 1954, was a senior captain of the 1956 unbeaten, once tied Aggies. His first coaching assignment was as a student assistant, followed by seven seasons with Bryant at Alabama. Stallings returned to A&M to serve as head coach for seven years (1965-1971) highlighted by the 1967 SWC title and Cotton Bowl win over Bryant at Alabama. He began his pro career in 1972, serving 14 years on Tom Landry's staff with the Dallas Cowboys (1972-1985) and four years as head coach of the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (1986-1989). Stallings went back to Tuscaloosa in 1990 and promptly returned the Crimson Tide to prominence. After a 7-5 start, his Alabama teams went 11-1-0, 13-0-0, 8-3-1, & 12-1-0 with three top five rankings. His 1992 team won the National Championship with a 34-13 victory over Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Stallings was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.