Rayford "Ray" Talley was a star quarterback for the Hanceville Bulldogs during his high school days. He graduated in 1957 and with the assistance of his coach, John Meadows, he earned a football scholarship to Jacksonville State. Following college, Talley accepted a job teaching math but his coaching career would be put on hold when he was shipped to Germany with the ROTC. Upon returning to the United States, Talley was hired as an assistant coach at Cullman High School in 1966. Talley coached the B-team, assisting his friend, Coach Dafford Smith. He got his first shot at being a head football coach at Falkville in 1974. He led the Blue Devils for two seasons, then came back to his alma mater, Hanceville High School in 1976 where he coached for the remainder of his head coaching career. His 1977 Bulldogs finished the regular season undefeated before losing in the semi-finals of the playoffs. His team reached the semi-finals of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons (1985-86). Over his 15 seasons at Hanceville his teams only suffered through two losing seasons. | 
