Willie H. Staggs was born in 1957 in Sanford, FL. His father served in the Navy over 21 years. After his father's retirement from the Navy the family moved to Huntsville, AL, which was home to both of Willie's parents. Willie began wrestling in 8th grade (1970-71) at Ed White Junior High for Hall of Fame Coach John Calvarese and Butler graduate Mike Thomas. In 9th grade Willie won the City Championship, going 7-2 that season (1971-72). Willie moved on to S. R. Butler High School to wrestle for Hall of Fame Coach Glynn Stowe. His sophomore year he wrestled junior varsity at 155 pounds behind a very strong varsity team that won the AHSAA 1973 State Tournament. Willie started his junior and senior seasons at 155 pounds making the finals of every tournament but the AHSAA State Tournament both years. He compiled a 34-10 record in those two seasons finishing third his senior season on the 1975 AHSAA State Championship team. After high school, Willie accepted a scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He attended UTC three years, wrestling two of those, redshirting the other. He won the Georgia Open as a freshman. After a series of injuries, Willie decided to return home in the fall of 1978 and finish his degree at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. It was at this time that Willie began his officiating and coaching career as an Assistant Wrestling Coach to Head Coach Calvarese at Butler High School. Willie attended his first Coaches and Officials Rules Clinic that year. Hall of Fame Coach Joe Perkins conducted the clinic; between Coaches Perkins and Calvarese they convinced Willie to take the officials test. He passed the test and called a couple of events that season, 1978-79. The next season he called a few more events. The following season, 1980-81, he stepped away from coaching at Butler and officiated the entire season. It was this season he was selected to officiate the AHSAA 4A State Tournament. Willie was recruited by Coach Jim Caneer to assist him coaching the Huntsville High School wrestling team from 1981-85. To date, Willie has officiated 36 AHSAA State Tournaments and 40 AHSAA Sectional Tournaments. Willie has three children, Amanda White (Paul), Carolyn McDonough (Pat), and Billy Staggs, and five grandchildren, Sawyer, Greyson, Robert, Finley, and Andy. He currently lives with his fiance, Suzette Brown.