Bernie Wall entered W.S. Neal as a first grader and graduated from W.S. Neal High School in 1966 as class Valedictorian. While attending W.S. Neal, he was a three-year Letterman in both baseball and football. Bernie played both offense and defense in three consecutive football victories over Murder Creek rival T.R. Miller. As a sophomore, Bernie started the year at quarterback but due to a mid-season hand injury, played half back and defensive back in a 34 to 6 victory over T.R. Miller. The following year at quarterback, Bernie directed a second half drive in a torrential rainstorm that culminated in a touchdown and a 7 to 0 victory over previously undefeated but once tied T.R. Miller.

As a senior, Bernie was again instrumental in leading W.S. Neal to a 13 to 12 victory over T.R. Miller, adding the final and winning extra point late in the game on a quarterback option. These season ending victories enabled W.S. Neal to post 9 and 1 records for both the 1964 and 1965 football seasons. After graduating from High School, Bernie attended Marion Military Institute for one year prior to entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. There he also played football and was quarterback of the 1969 Army football team that defeated archrival Navy 27 to 0 in one of the nation’s oldest rivalries. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and then served on active duty in a variety of positions for twenty-one years, including three years as an assistant football coach at Army. Bernie ended his military service in 1992 after obtaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He currently resides in the Brewton area with his wife of forty-four years, Anita, a 1967 T.R Miller graduate.