As the sports world mourns the loss of University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore, who passed away on March 30 after a battle with people across the country are sharing their memories of his life and lessons learned from a man know as a leader who was kind and caring.

Pike County Probate Judge Wes Allen played for Alabama while Moore was the assistant athletic director then later worked with him in the athletics department. Allen remembers Moore as being a positive role model who had a great work ethic.

“His legacy is going to felt for a very long time as a player, coach and administrator,” Allen said. “Mal was a true southern gentleman in every sense of the word. He afforded me the unique opportunity to serve a university that I grew up idolizing as a kid. He was just a good man.”

After his playing days, Allen joined Moore in the athletic department as an intern and later as Marketing and Licensing Director.

Moore was a quarterback for the Crimson Tide from 1958-1962 before becoming an assistant at Montana State in 1963. His alma mater called in 1964 and he returned to Tuscaloosa as a graduate assistant. Moore was named defensive backs coach in 1965 then quarterbacks coach in 1971. In 1975, Moore was given controls of the Alabama offense and remained in that role until he departed in 1982 to take an assistant position at Notre Dame.

After a stint in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Moore returned to Alabama as offensive coordinator under Gene Stallings before jumping into his administrative career in 1994 as assistant athletic director. Alabama named Moore athletic director in 1999 where he stayed until he retired on March 20, 2013, he died 10 days later.

Allen said Moore was always mindful of his employees and made a point to lend an ear when needed.

“He would always ask about my family and make sure things were good,” Allen said. “We both hunt and fish so we had a lot to talk about other than football.”

Allen said Moore always wanted the best out of people and lent some helpful advice that Allen carries with him today.

“He would always tell us to remember who we were representing and show class,” Allen said. “He wanted us to strive to be a champion in everything we do. He was just a fine man.”

Moore was a part of 10 national championships in some capacity over his career including one as a player under Bear Bryant in 1961.

The University of Alabama will host a “Celebration of Life” in Moore’s memory today at 3 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum on the university’s campus.