Donald Faint
Class of 2016
Don Faint’s life has been defined by leadership, discipline and service — qualities first forged on the basketball court at Butler High School under legendary coach Thomas E. “Cotton” Rogers. From those early days in Huntsville to a decorated military career and professional success afterward, Faint carried with him lessons learned from the game and the mentor who shaped him.
Faint was part of one of the most celebrated eras in Butler High basketball history. Rogers compiled a remarkable 376–122 record from 1954 to 1972 and led the Rebels to the 1966 Class 4A state championship. That team defeated Sidney Lanier 60–57 at Tuscaloosa’s Foster Auditorium behind the play of seniors Randy Hollingsworth and Danny Treadwell. Faint, then a junior, served as the team’s starting center and played a key role in the championship run.
He later described Rogers as the most influential person in his athletic life. The coach’s emphasis on preparation and teamwork left a lasting impression on his players. One of Rogers’ favorite strategies, remembered fondly by Faint, came just before halftime of close games. Calling a timeout, Rogers would grin and say, “Let’s give ’em something to work on at halftime,” before introducing a new offensive wrinkle or defensive press that opponents would spend halftime adjusting to — adjustments they would never see again.
Faint’s success began even earlier. At Davis Hills Junior High he lettered in football, basketball and baseball, helping his ninth-grade basketball team win a city championship. At Butler he became a three-year basketball letterman, earning All-City and All-State honors while serving as team captain his senior year and averaging double figures in scoring and rebounding.
He continued his career at Florence State College, now the University of North Alabama, where he scored 1,212 career points and started 91 consecutive games. His senior season included a career-high 34-point performance against Montevallo. In 1998 he was inducted into the UNA Sports Hall of Fame.
After college, Faint served 27 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a full colonel. His decorated career included service in Operation Just Cause and Desert Shield/Desert Storm, earning the Bronze Star and other honors.
He later worked for Dynetics and Quantum Research and lives in Madison with his wife, Susan.
This content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model, based on original stories written the year of the honoree's induction by Board members and other contributors. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided may not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. Please contact the Hall of Fame with corrections.
