By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Carl Madison, whose seven-decades coaching career made his name one of the most synonymous with high school football success in and beyond northwest Florida and southwest Alabama, passed away Sunday night, March 3, after a lengthy illness.
Madison was born in Uriah and reared in Atmore. J.M. Tate High School’s football stadium is now named for him. He was not only noted for his coaching success, during his days at Atmore High School, he gained notoriety as one of the “Barnes Boys.”
He played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes, for whom the Atmore High (now Escambia County High) stadium is named, from 1945 to 1947, when the Blue Devils won 29 games in a row before a tie broke the streak. Atmore compiled a 35-1-2 record under his tutelage, enjoying a 34-game span during which they did not lose.
Madison coached Tate High to the 1980 Class 4A Florida state championship. His Pine Forest High team (Pensacola) was not only state champion in 1987 and 1988, but also USA Today’s national champ in 1988. Milton High also won a state title under his guidance, as did Jackson Academy.
He won Florida Coach of the Year five times, was the second-winningest coach in the state (326-129-7 Fla. career record) and was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Madison’s obituary was not available Tuesday’s press deadline, however, Atmore News learned that visitation will be held next Monday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola, with the funeral service following visitation.