Danny Maze

Danny Ray Maze was born on March 11, 1955, to Mary Emma and Garland Maze in Arab, Alabama. He has a twin sister, Rita Brand, and a younger sister, Melinda Cantrell. Danny started playing football in the youth leagues in Arab and played junior high football under Hall of Fame Inductee H.T. "Pistol" Bentley. He was a three-year starter from 1970-72 at Arab High School under legendary Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame Coach Buster Gross, who recruited Danny, a trumpet player in the band, to play for the Knights. Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Morgan said, "Danny Maze was the best football player I ever coached."

Danny had an outstanding career at Arab High School, amassing over 3,000 yards rushing in three years, with 1,080 as a junior and 1,249 as a senior. It was during these days that the hard-hitting, tough-as-nails running back earned the nickname of "Wildman." He was selected to the All-County team as a junior and senior and was Co-Marshall County Player of the Year, along with Guntersville's Mike "Frog" Horton. Maze was also the Arab High School MVP, Outstanding Offensive Back and the Bemon Lyon Award winner. In 1972, he was selected to the First Team 3A All-State Team by the Birmingham Post-Herald and was chosen to play in the Alabama High School All-Star Game in Tuscaloosa the following summer. The team was coached by two Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame inductees, Lyle Darnell and John Allen. Following his high school career, Danny was signed to a full scholarship at Auburn University. He played on the last two teams coached by legendary Coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan and his final three years under Coach Doug Barfield. Danny played in Jordan's I-Formation offense as a fullback his first two years, but when Barfield became the coach and switched to the split-back veer offense, he was moved to the defensive side of the ball as a combination defensive end and outside linebacker. Danny received a career-ending knee injury during his junior year while playing on the kickoff team.

Danny was a straight-A student in high school with plans to become a veterinarian at that time. He later changed his major to Pharmacy, made the Dean's List in that program and graduated in 1980. He has served the communities of Albertville and Arab as a pharmacist for over 30 years and is currently working at Jones Discount Pharmacy in Arab. He has been the District Manager of Big B Drugs and is on the Advisory Committee of CORIP, the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy. Danny is also a member of the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Marshall County and Mount Olive Baptist Church. In 1978, Danny married Amanda Gibbs of Arab. The Mazes have two children. Danielle Maze Groves is a Registered Nurse at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham. Sam, who was an outstanding football player at Arab High School, also received a scholarship and played football at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, and is graduating this spring.