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Mr. Spoons
By John Charles Robbins
jrobbins@journalscene.com
They call him Mr. Spoons, but Summerville's Donal Stallard goes by many names, including Patriot and Hero.
His charitable work and his years of playing music for veterans, earned him a special recognition recently.
A former military man himself, Stallard has never forgotten his brothers in arms, donating his time and money to ease
the trials and tribulations often faced by veterans of global conflict.
Stallard, 85, was pleasantly surprised to receive an honor in the mail last week — a colorful certificate suitable
for framing. In fact, he's put it into a shiny gold frame.
The certificate was awarded to Stallard from the Help Hospitalized Veterans organization naming him "A Patriot of the
Year 2007."
It calls Stallard a "Hero" for his past kindness and unselfish generosity toward worthwhile charitable causes, given to
him on behalf of the thousands of hospitalized veterans throughout the United States and the GIs fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I thought this was pretty nice," said Stallard, showing off his certificate with the pride of an earnest child showing
his first drawing.
"It's really a surprise to me," said the modest gentleman.
His knick-name, Mr. Spoons, was born of his love of music. He plays the mandolin, but he has the most fun with a pair
of spoons.
And not just any spoons: His instrument is a pair of over-sized Army-issued spoons that he has joined together with electrical
tape.
He makes the spoons dance and the rhythmic clicky-clack rings out a familiar tune.
Stallard ends his infused performance by making the spoons travel from his leg, up his arm and end with a pop to his cheek
to get a little extra "oomph" to end the song.
And then he laughs, a big-hearted laugh, and smiles.
"Oh lordy," he said.
The military was a big part of his early life.
Stallard was drafted into the U.S. Army in the 1940s, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, the bloodiest conflict of
World War II.
Back in the states and out of the Army, Stallard got a job in the coal mines but the experience was short lived as a strike
ended his work and paychecks.
"You ever heard that Tennessee Ernie Ford song, 'You load sixteen tons (and) what do you get, another day older and deeper
in debt'? Well, I didn't want that so I joined the Air Force," Stallard said.
His decades of service to his country ended with retirement from Charleston Air Force Base. Then he and his wife Edna
made a home in Summerville. They are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this year.
Stallard still carries his frayed and faded U.S. Air Force identification card in his crowded wallet.
He and his good friends Bette "B" and Roger Bellow make up the group Don Stallard & The Bluegrass Entertainers.
The trio performs music and comedy for public and private events.
"We always open a show with 'Alabama Jubilee,'" Stallard said. "We play religious functions and for veterans' groups."
For Stallard, his music and his friends help keep him young.
The jovial man has more energy than most people half his age. "I just keep on going," Stallard said with a grin and a
wink.
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