MONTGOMERY – Faulkner University officials plan to name the school’s future football field for John Mark Stallings.

Faulkner president Billy Hilyer has known former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings for years and thought it would be a good tribute to their friendship to name the field for Stallings’ son.

Hilyer contacted Gene and Ruth Ann Stallings about the matter last month.

The tribute has even more meaning now because John Mark died Saturday.

His death came just days before Faulkner was scheduled to start a fundraising campaign to raise the $600,000 needed to build the field as part of a $2 million stadium.

The 46-year-old John Mark was born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect.

Hilyer said coach Stallings means a lot to people in Alabama and has helped Faulkner in a lot of ways. He said John Mark was a remarkable person who was loved by everyone.