Earl Faison

HUNTINGTON HIGH, NEWPORT NEWS (1957)
FOOTBALL

Earl Faison attended Carver High for one year before transferring to Huntington where he excelled in football, basketball and track. Coached by hall of famer Thad Madden, he played on VIA State Football Championship teams in 1955 and 1957. He was also an all-state basketball player. His outstanding skills with the shot put and discus contributed to state championships in track and field. As a 6 foot 5 inch, 265 pound lineman who played both offense and defense, he was named All-Big-10 and an honorable mention All-American in 1960 at Indiana University. After graduation Faison signed with the Los Angeles Charges of the American Football League (AFL) as a first round draft pick. With defensive tackle Ernie Ladd, Faison helped form the original “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line in pro football. Selected as AFL Rookie of the Year and All-AFL in 1961, he was an AFL all-star five times and played on the 1963 league championship team. After his pro football career ended in 1966, Mr. Faison spent nearly 40 years as an educator. Beginning as a teacher at San Diego‘s Lincoln High School in 1968, he served as the football coach from 1970-75. His most outstanding player was future NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen. He has been selected to the Charges Hall of Fame, the team’s 50th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.