Billy Colburn graduated from Chalmette High School in Louisiana in 1964. After high school graduation, he walked on as a football player and graduated from The University of West Alabama. In 1977 Billy was hired as a teacher and coach at Fort Payne High School. During his tenure at Fort Payne, Billy coached about every sport Fort Payne had to offer including Assistant football coach, B team basketball, head track coach and head wrestling coach. Coach Colburn also served as athletic trainer and sponsor of the FCA chapter at the high school. In 1994 Coach Colburn was awarded the Golden Apple Award for Teachers by the governor of Alabama. This award was given to the teacher who was instrumental in the lives of so many students at Fort Payne High School.
