THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604170125
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
The Friends of Shorty Stallings will again honor the memory of the late Herbert T. ``Shorty'' Stallings with a golf tournament and barbecue on Tuesday.
``With an annual fund-raising golf tournament and barbecue, the Friends of Shorty Stallings now make sure they pay Shorty back every year by keeping his good name and memory alive,'' said the flier for the upcoming events.
The Friends consist of founding members Bill Judah, Dwight Hughes, Harold Ellington, Rick Tisdale, Ted Nance, Donn Irby, Jim Dunlo, Jimmy Reece, Lennon Newberry, Mike Creekmore and Max Dale along with Jerry Harris, Scott Oswald, Stan Whitley and Roger Fantom.
Every year, they honor Stallings' unselfishness and grace with the fund-raising event. Funds earned are used to award college money to two deserving high school students. It's something Shorty would have done, his friends insist.
Stories about the generosity, class and charm of Stallings are many. His supporters say Stallings was the type who would literally give you the shirt off his back and never ask for its return. He loved people and never turned his back on someone in need.
Stallings ran a pool hall, Triangle Billiards, on Poindexter Street in South Norfolk for 34 years. It served the best hamburger in town, patrons claim, and even though the place was the scene of many a heated pool game, it was never a joint or hang out. He never allowed lewd language, boisterous behavior, drugs or alcohol abuse to taint his establishment.
His legion of friends say Stallings could stop an impending fight between two burly truck drivers with just a look or a soft spoken word.
When he died Feb. 28, 1985, he left behind a wallet full of IOUs from the many people he helped. Shorty never asked anyone he helped to pay him back.
His example served as an inspiration to many South Norfolk folks. Stallings constantly urged them to stay straight, study and give respect to others. Many of those South Norfolk teens took Stallings' advice, learned by his example and became successful adults in many fields including law enforcement and real estate. After Stallings died, the individuals mentioned above, whom he touched with his gentle grace, banded together to keep his name and memory alive.
And the community has honored that memory, as well.
``We've been blessed that people have come out to support us,'' said Reece, the organization's vice president in charge of this year's golf tournament. ``Many people knew Shorty, and they've all come to support these events.''
According to Reece, the events raise between $5,000 and $10,000 in annual net proceeds.
Since it began in 1985, the fund has raised enough money to award 22 individual scholarships to deserving Oscar F. Smith or Great Bridge high graduates. To date, it has disbursed in excess of $42,000.
Several of the scholarship recipients are still in school, and 10 have already obtained their degrees in various fields of study. The fund currently awards one scholarship per school each year.
The scholarships are awarded by a special committee annually on the basis of financial need, academic performance and community involvement. Scholarship recipients are chosen from a pool of applicants submitted by each schools' guidance counselors.
In addition to the scholarship fund, the Friends also have provided a total of over $14,000 in financial aid to school and community service organizations.
In order to earn money to help deserving students, schools and the community, the Friends urge everyone to come out this Tuesday to the barbecue and golf competitions.
The food fest will take place at Chesapeake City Park (Jubilee site) and will feature all-you-can-eat barbecue dinners. The donation price per ticket will include food, beverages and musical entertainment.
The golf tournament at Greenbrier Country Club will be a four-man, Florida best ball tournament with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. MEMO: Donations to the Shorty Stallings Scholarship Fund may be sent to P.O.
Box 15502, Chesapeake, Va. 23328.
ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
What: The 12th Annual Shorty Stallings Memorial Barbecue and Golf
Tournament.
Who: Sponsored and organized by the Friends of Shorty Stallings'
nonprofit group.
Where: The barbecue takes place at Chesapeake City Park (Jubilee
site) on Greenbrier Parkway. The golf tournament will be held at
Greenbrier Country Club, 1301 Volvo Parkway.
When: Tuesday. The barbecue takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. The golf
tournament begins at 10 a.m.
Cost: Barbecue tickets are $15 in advance. Golf tournament fees
are $125 per player or $500 per team.
Call: For tickets or more information, call 547-9247, 552-6945,
547-5781, 547-7375, 436-8367, 482-3556, 552-6979, 482-5622,
482-1586, 482-2399 or 436-6768.
by CNB