Choppy Wagner became a coaching legend during his career as a coach and athletic director, with 31 years spent at Washington High. A 1938 graduate of Wake Forest, Wagner is the most successful football coach in Washington history, with a record of 153-73-12 during a coaching career there that started in 1941, missed World War II years due to a stint in the Navy, and then ran from 1946-76.  He coached in the East-West game, the Shrine Bowl and the first ever North-South all-star contest, and he guided numerous teams into state play-off competition. He served a term on the NCHSAA Board of Directors and also was president of the North Carolina Coaches Association. Washington's recently completed football stadium bears his name.