Coach Tony Falls was raised at his grandparents’ Lottsburg, VA home. His mother worked in Washington, DC and commuted home alternate weekends, Early on, young Tony was responsible for gathering the wood to warm the house and for feeding the pigs. Tony became a “brother” or “big brother” for cousins whom either resided at the “Big House” or came there for Sunday visits. Sundays, Tony walked home from Zion Lottsburg Church, three fields away so he wouldn’t miss the football game.

     Across his life, sports were Tony’s passion. Tony “coached” and practiced plays with younger cousins, in order to beat the stacked (older) team during Sunday and holiday games. Tony mentored visiting “city cousins” when they proved inept at picking vegetables and navigating country fields and streams.

Throughout his life, his mother’s sisters also considered Tony to be their son. Tony’s leadership skills made him a rock for many. This renown Central High School basketball athlete schooled Central High School peers in rules, moves, and plays so they could jell with the Northumberland High School football combo team that emerged from de-segregation.

     Tony’s ROTC four-year scholarship at Hampton Institute obligated him to join the service. Two days before receiving a B.S. degree in Physical Education, Tony was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. After training, he served one year as Battery Commander of an Air Defense Artillery Unit in South Korea’s DMZ. There, to ensure that career personnel would accept and respect his authority, this 22-year-old deliberately asserted a toughness that earned him the title, “Hard Core”.

     Stateside at Ft. Carson, CO, Tony’s weekend car trips afforded bragging rights that he had visited every state except one. By the time he was Honorably Discharged, Tony had risen to the rank of Captain, and had earned a National Defense Service Medal. After a position as a Material Supervisor at General Motors Corporation’s OH’s plant, Tony took his business skills to Pittsburgh. There, Tony did Marketing and Market Development for IBM Corporation.

     Tony and new wife, Judy joined him in Pittsburgh. They had gone to Tony’s senior prom together and had been classmates at Hampton. After Justin and Lauren were born, the foursome moved closer home. It was important that Justin and Lauren should know their relatives.

Tony was always an entrepreneur. Across his career, he started two joint venture businesses and two business for which he was the chief executive officer. He always said the only real way to get ahead is to work for yourself.

     Tony invested his time and talents to ensure that Justin and Lauren would love basketball as much as he did. Along the way, he invested in developing other people’s kids,’ skills and confidence, as well. As an AAU basketball coach, Tony regularly ferried athletes to and from games and practices. Our conversion van was known as the “team bus”. Our spare bedroom, known as “The Team Room” had two sets of bunk beds and spare mattresses ready for frequent sleep-overs.

Tony planned tournaments, used his contacts, and showcased players in hopes of getting them scholarship offers. Tony’s EBA girls’ traveling team was respected regionwide. In 1997, his fifteen-and-under EBA boys’ team won the South Maryland Regional tournament by playing 5 games in one day. In YBOA competition, this boys’ team was ranked # 9 nationally. By invitation, Tony coached Blue Chip tournaments – occasions for college scouts to observe random ensembles of top-ranked female athletes. Twenty years after Justin and Lauren graduated, Magruder High School coaches continued to invite, appreciate, and respect Tony’s input and basketball strategies. Across years, former players and coaches he had mentored approached him to thank him.

     Family had always been important. Tony’s home became the go-to place for Thanksgiving dinners. No need to call, you just showed up. Baby showers, birthday parties, and picnics became an extension of the family cohesiveness Tony had known in “The Big House” at Lottsburg, VA. His near thirty-year membership in Mt. Calvary Baptist Church was an extension of his childhood faith.  

Throughout his life, Tony was an available, responsive, and reliable support resource for family and friends in need of help. When Tony said he’d take care of it, the issue was settled. From his grandfather, Tony had learned, “Always pay what you owe” and “Your word is your bond”. Such was the life he led. Tony’s name is synonymous with ‘honorable and reliable’.

     Classmates and friends, as well as athletes whom Tony had mentored and coached across 40 years abound. The comments seen here are an occasion for people he touched to honor him. Tony loved and enjoyed his family tremendously. Tony will be missed enormously.