Charlie F. Waller

1921 - 2009

Charlie F. Waller, of Baker, Fla., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 5, after a brief illness. Charlie was born in Griffin, Ga., to the late Seth and Edna Waller, on Nov. 26, 1921. He starred in athletics at Griffin High School in the late 1930's. He played three years in football as a halfback and three years in basketball as a guard. After graduating in 1938, Charlie went on to Oglethorpe University where he was a three year letterman in football, baseball and boxing. His senior year he was captain of the football team. He graduated in 1942 and was inducted into the Oglethorpe University Hall of Fame in 1980.
During World War II, Mr. Waller served as a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. He saw action in both the North Atlantic and South Pacific and was commissioned at sea for acts of heroism.
Following the war, Charlie attended the University of Georgia. After graduation, he began his coaching career at Decatur High School in 1946. While at DHS, he guided a baseball team to a state championship in 1949. He coached two football teams (1949, 1950) to state titles. In football, he compiled a record of 43-3 (two losses by only one point). At one point, his teams won 25 straight games. Mr. Waller was chosen Regional Coach of the year in 1949 and 1950 and was the State Coach of the Year in 1949, and inducted into the Griffin, Ga., Hall of Fame in 1987.
In 1951, Charlie was given the opportunity to move up to major college ranks. He joined the staff at Auburn under their new coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan. He served as Offensive Coordinator, between 1951 and 1954 and tutored such players as Vince Dooley, Fob James (former Alabama Governor), plus NFL standouts Bob Freeman, Dave Middleton and Joe Childress.
In 1955, Coach Waller accepted an assistant's position with the University of Texas. His first year there, his offense led the Southwest Conference in passing offense and on Thanksgiving Day, Texas upset Texas A & M. The Aggies, coached by Bear Bryant, were undefeated going into the game.
Moving back to the Southwest in 1957, Charlie joined Frank Howards staff at Clemson University. He remained there until 1965. During this period, Clemson won an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and played in the Sugar and Bluebonnett Bowls.
In 1966, Coach Waller entered the pro coaching ranks when he joined the staff of the Chargers. As head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 1969-1970, his teams compiled a record of nine wins, seven losses and three ties. He was an assistant with the Chargers from 1966-1969 and in 1971. From San Diego, Charlie went to the Washington Redskins, where he was an assistant on the staff of head coach George Allen. In the 1972 season, the Redskins won the NFC Championship and played the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
Coach Waller was a member of the Redskin staff through the 1977 season. In that time period, the team made the playoffs three times. In 1978 he was an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams. During this time, they won the Western Division and led in scoring and pass offense.
Following the 1980 season, Coach Waller was out of coaching for several years but with the coming of the USFL, got back into the pro ranks. He coached the Chicago Blitz (1983), Oakland Invaders (1984) and the Memphis Showboats (1985) to winning seasons.
Charlie retired from coaching in 1985 and began to pursue his love of golf and time with his family and his grandchildren. Charlie and his wife Maxine moved to Bluewater Bay in 1989 and later to Baker in 2003. Charlie is survived by his wife of 55 years, Maxine E. Waller; five daughters, Peggy Weaver and her husband Tony, Patsy Johnson, Cheri Talbert and her husband Guy, Karen Estelle, and Mary Waller; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; as well as his faithful companion, "Buddy."
A Celebration of his life, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 10, at First Presbyterian Church of Niceville, 1800 E. John Sims Parkway, Niceville, at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in his name may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., 406 W. 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 or to Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 Eighteenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 2006-3517
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.twincitiescremationsfunerals.com.