[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 85 (Monday, May 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S7117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    TRIBUTE TO COACH HOWARD CHAPPELL

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, this year, one of Alabama's most 
outstanding high school football coaches was inducted into the Alabama 
High School Sports Hall of Fame. From 1934 until 1942 and again from 
1951 to 1960, Howard ``Chap'' Chappell served as the coach of the 
Deshler High School Tigers, of Tuscumbia, AL, compiling an overall 
record of 110-52-2. But, Chap did more than just coach. As State 
Representative Marcel Black once said, ``My favorite stories of Coach 
Chap are the ones involving his guidance and support to his former 
players after their careers as high school football players had 
ended.'' Chap was inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 20, 1995.
  After graduating from Sylacauga High School in 1930, Chap accepted a 
scholarship to the University of Alabama. He was a 3-year letterman on 
football teams that went 24-4-1 and won the first Southeastern 
Conference Championship in 1933. He was also a star player on the track 
team, lettering for 3 years.
  Coach Chappell's first tenure as coach began in 1934. As a senior, he 
made recruiting trips for the coach, encouraging outstanding high 
school students to go to the University of Alabama. ``Coach Hank Crisp 
sent me to Sheffield to see about a boy named Jack Machtoff,'' Chap 
recalled in an interview. ``I found out about a job opening in 
Tuscumbia. I went to see superintendent R.E. Thompson. He didn't give 
me the job then * * * but he called later and said I could have the job 
if I wanted it.'' So, Jack went to play at Alabama and Chap became 
coach of Deshler High School.
  During his career as a coach, he managed to lead 3 undefeated teams. 
The Tigers were the dominant team in the Tennessee Valley. In 1938, 
they were described as ``striking with the swiftness of a marauding 
band of Vikings.'' He left coaching in 1960 to become principal of R.E. 
Thompson School, a position which he retained until he retired in 1975.
  Howard Chappell's many contributions have extended beyond his 
outstanding coaching. As Dr. James Maples wrote: ``I was never 
fortunate enough to have played for Coach Chap * * * but his spirit, 
his tradition, his style and his attitude still to this day blanket the 
stadium that bears his name * * * What makes Chap great, however, what 
lifts him to heroic status in the minds of his friends and neighbors, 
is his presence in our everyday lives. That presence goes well beyond 
the confines of sports. There are young people who think Howard 
Chappell absolutely hung the moon, who have no idea he ever coached 
football at Deshler.''
  During the war, Chap oversaw the building of the stadium that was 
later named after him. In 1975, the city of Tuscumbia honored him with 
a 2-day celebration of his career and contributions to the community. 
He has served as president of the Alabama High School Coaches 
Association and the Tennessee Valley Conference. He
 is active in the First Methodist Church of Tuscumbia and has been 
president of the Kiwanis Club and member of the Tuscumbia City 
Commission.

  During his 84 years, Howard Chappell has been one of the few who can 
rightly be called pillars of the community. I congratulate him on all 
of his achievements, and I wish him luck in continuing to shoot his age 
on the golf course.

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