Stanley Howell

Stanley Howell was born on November 5, 1957 in Guntersville, Alabama, to Allie Havis and James Cecil Horton. He has eight brothers: George, Carl, Randy and Charles Ray Howell; Robert, Wayne and Mike Horton; and Kim Williamson. He also has a sister, Ann Horton. Stan started playing football for the Cardinals in the first Pee Wee football league in Guntersville. He also played on the Warrington Yellow Jackets under Coach Ray Kelly. The high school coaches could see Stanley's potential as a junior high player and moved him and three others up to dress with the varsity after his eighth grade season ended. Stanley became a three-year starter as an I-Formation tailback from 1974 to 1976 under new Wildcat Head Football Coach Bill Rayburn. During those three years, Howell rushed for over 3000 yards, over 1200 as a senior, on his way to being named a two-time All-Marshall County and Birmingham News Honorable Mention All-State football player. While football was Howell's strongest sport, he was also an outstanding basketball player as the "Sixth-man" on the Wildcat's 1975 State Championship team, playing with Hall of Fame teammate Kent Looney, under Coach Jim Rhodes. When asked by one of the players as to why Stanley got to play so much on the basketball team, Coach Rhodes told the player, "Because he knows how to compete." Stanley was also an All-County sprinter on the Track and Field team coached by Bobby Burcham and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. At the GHS athletic banquet, Stanley gave the opening prayer and went on to receive awards as the Wildcat Captain, MVP, Back-of-the-Year and the Larry Kelley and Mike Jennings Award. Following his senior year in 1976, Stanley signed a football scholarship with Mississippi State University and was selected to play on the North Squad in the Alabama High School All-Star Game in Tuscaloosa along with Albertville Hall of Fame lineman Paul Teague. At Mississippi State, Stanley was on a team with many talented players, especially at the tailback position. However, he lettered as a freshman on a Bulldog squad that went 9-2. His first carry in college netted 16 yards. After two years, MSU hired former Texas A & M Head Coach Emory Bellard, who brought the "Wishbone" triple option formation to Starkville. Stanley was a third-down specialist in that formation, being able to run, pass block or catch the ball. As a senior on the 1979 team, Stanley started every game. The biggest play of his career was a 98-yard run from scrimmage in the Homecoming game against Southern Mississippi. Sports Illustrated lists this as the second-longest run from scrimmage in SEC history and the longest for Mississippi State. In his final two seasons at State, Howell ran the ball 86 times for 624 yards for a average of 7.3 yards per rush. Stanley graduated in 1980 with a B.S. degree in Health Education. He signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams and was the last player cut about half way through the season. The following year he was picked up by San Diego Chargers. Stanley gives all of the credit for his success in athletics to his coaches, especially Coach Bill Rayburn and Coach Jim Rhodes, who taught him to be a leader on and off the field. He also credits his mother for teaching him strong Christian values. After football, Stanley, a talented vocalist, toured the world with the musical group "Speed Limit." He also did some modeling while in Los Angeles. Stanley married his wife of 30 years, Gwendolyn, in 1982. The Howell's have three children, Stanetra, Jamal and Cheralyn; and three grandchildren, Kylan Howell, Cayden Howell and Jamaya Howell. They live in Memphis where Stanley currently works as the Supervisor for Vector Control for Shelby County. He has coached youth league and high school football, and also volunteers with Delta Sigma Theta as a mentor for young boys without fathers. The Howells are active in the Golden Gate Full Gospel Baptist Church in Memphis.