Bill Moore

Bill Moore was born on January 31, 1945, to Emery M. and Ida Wilson Moore of Albertville. Bill was an outstanding athlete at Albertville High School from 1959-63 playing basketball, baseball and running track. He was a three-year letterman for Hall of Fame Coach Shannon Sloan’s Aggies. During his senior year in 1963, the 6-4 forward was named to the All-Marshall County Tournament, All-Sand Mountain Tournament and All-Northeast Alabama Conference Tournament Teams.

After an outstanding senior season, Bill received a full scholarship to play basketball at Southern Union Junior College in Wadley, Alabama. He also played on the tennis team. Bill was named MVP at Southern Union in 1965 and received a scholarship to play basketball and continue his education at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He married Pamela Ann Martin of Albertville in 1965. After his graduation from Trinity in 1968 with degree in physical education and history, Bill served as head basketball coach for Keystone Academy, Southside High School, Floresville High School and Lampasas High School, all in Texas.

In 1972, Bill moved his family back to Marshall County to become the recreation director for the City of Guntersville. Throughout his 25-year career in Guntersville, Bill impacted the lives of thousands of youth and adults. To expand the recreational opportunities, he brought activities such as racquetball and the 10K Wild Irish Run to the area and sought grants and funding for the construction of various sports facilities including 14 tennis courts, a gymnasium, Kiwanis Pier, Civitan Baseball Park, Ogletree Baseball Park, two walking trails, three playgrounds, boat ramps, pavilions, and two swimming pools including one Olympic-size competition swimming pool. In short, under Bill’s leadership, the recreation program for the city of Guntersville expanded to facilities valued at nearly $8,000,000, and covering 175 acres with 6 miles of shoreline.

Bill’s contributions to athletics in Marshall County were not limited to his job with the Recreation Department. He was a basketball official for 27 years and a football color analyst for WTWX Radio alongside Hall of Fame inductee Bill Yancy for 21 years. In Dixie Baseball, he served as state and national director for 27 years and brought numerous state tournaments and Dixie World Series to Marshall County. In the Alabama Parks and Recreation Association, Bill served as president and was named Professional of the Year. In Rotary, he served as president and was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and for his work in the community, Bill was awarded the Guntersville Chamber of Commerce President’s Cup. Since his death, a Dixie scholarship program, a state APRA golf tournament and a city baseball field have been named in his honor. Bill was also an avid golfer and tennis player, winning tournaments and even getting a hole-in-one in 1997. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Guntersville. Bill and Pam have two children, Bill Moore, Jr. and Jennifer Palmer, and four grandchildren, Parker, Ross, Amelia and Devin.

Bill Moore passed away on February 19, 2001, at his residence in Albertville. His love of athletics and his dedication to youth continue to inspire and provide enjoyment to the countless number of people he served and positively affected in Marshall County.