John L. “Pete” Stafford was a longtime Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association wrestling official. He officiated 32 state tournaments in his career and received the TSSAA Award of Merit for 50 years of dedicated service as an athletic official in 2011.

Stafford was a member of the TSSAA Legislative Council from 1989 through 2002 and vice president of the council those last four years.

After teaching and coaching at Sevier County High School from 1963 through 1967, his work in the Knox County School system began at Young High in 1968.

When the Young and South high schools closed in 1976, Stafford continued his work at the new South-Young High School (1976-1991) and became head football coach of the Trojans for six seasons and athletic director and assistant principal for eight years.

After South-Young and Doyle high schools consolidated to form South-Doyle in 1991, Pete continued as assistant principal and AD through 2002.

His total years of service as a teacher, coach and administrator was 39 years.

The South-Doyle Middle School’s football field is named after him.

As an athlete himself, Stafford played football at Maryville College and was the Scots’ team captain his junior and senior years; starting every game and every quarter for four years.

Stafford also wrestled in college and was Southeast Conference runner-up his junior and senior years, posting a personal record of 19-1 his senior season.

At Porter High, Stafford was the Blount County Defensive Player of the Year and All-East Tennessee in football in 1958 in addition to being the Panthers’ team captain and MVP.