By By Chandler Myers
An Atmore legend faded into the sunset Monday as he passed away, but he will not be forgotten as one of “Barnes’ Boys” and an original football legend of Atmore.
Charles “Choo-Choo” Madison died at the age of 77 after a long, successful life that included playing and coaching football.
Madison was a five-year letterman as a wingback for Escambia County High School’s original coaching legend Herbert Barnes.
Carl Madison, Charles Madison’s older brother and coaching legend in his own right, said his brother was a great competitor that could play offense and defense.
Madison’s time on the Barnes-coached Blue Devils ran from the 1946 season until his senior year in 1950.
During his time on the Blue Devils, Atmore’s team went undefeated for a span of 34 consecutive games.
Ken Barnett, a former teammate of Madison’s, said Madison was a terror on the gridiron, and added he a good person when he was not playing the sport.
Ken Barnett’s younger brother, James, also said that Madison was a good person from a good family.
After a successful run in high school, Madison moved on to football at the college level playing at the University of Georgia for College Football Hall of Fame coach Wally Butts.
With the Bulldogs, Madison earned letters as a starter from 1952-54. During that time he was selected to play in the 1954 Blue-Gray Game as well as the 1955 Senior Bowl.
Atmore resident and former Escambia County Blue Devils football player Floyd Adams said that Madison became a legend for Atmore.
For Madison’s brother it was an honor to see him do well during his college career.
Madison said he enjoyed seeing his brother play for Georgia as well as in the Senior Bowl.
After college Madison went to work at Monsanto and eventually found his calling in coaching.
Carl Madison said that his brother took his first coaching job in Florida in 1966, and added that he also coached in Atmore.
Madison’s funeral will be held on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. with Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home handling the arrangements.