A highway in Dozier now bears the name of a University of Alabama legend.

The highway was named after Mal Moore, the longtime athletics director at the University of Alabama and a Dozier native who passed away in March of 2013. The dedication took place Sunday afternoon. The ceremony was held at the Dozier Baptist Church.

Moore graduated from Dozier High School in 1958, where he was the football team’s quarterback.

Two Luverne residents, John Wise Sr. and his father-in-law Steve Hicks, were responsible for taking Moore to his first college football game — a trip to Birmingham to see the Crimson Tide play.

“He was a senior in high school and a good athlete,” Wise said. “We were recruiting him for Alabama.”

Moore attended the University of Alabama and played quarterback from 1958 to 1962 under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, though much of his time was spent as a backup to Pat Trammell and Joe Namath.

He joined Alabama’s staff as a graduate assistant in 1965 and worked as an assistant coach under Bryant until 1982.  He returned to UA in 1990 as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, and in 1994, Moore was named the assistant athletics director.

As a player, assistant coach and athletics director, he was a part of 10 national championship teams, 16 SEC championships and 39 bowl games.

Despite his success, friends say that he always remembered his roots.

“He was a fine person, and he never forgot where he came from,” Wise said.

“Any students that went to Alabama, he’d tell them two things they’d need to do: go to church and remember where they’d come from,” said Sarah Clark. “He was a wonderful man.”

Clark said that Moore always came to Dozier High School reunions.

Moore’s name also adorns the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, which is the centerpiece of the athletic facilities at Alabama.