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The Tuscaloosa News
'Rocket 8' Alabama basketball legend Leon Marlaire dies at 90
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- 'Rocket 8' Alabama basketball legend Leon Marlaire dies at 90
Alabama basketball alumni Leon Marlaire has died at 90 years old.
A member of the Crimson Tide 's legendary "Rocket 8" team, that went 14-0 in conference play to bring the program its fifth SEC Championship, Marlaire's death was announced by the Birmingham Tipoff Club on Thursday.
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The club, which Marlaire founded in 1974, wrote to social media :
"We're saddened to share that one of our 'Founding Fathers' [Marlaire] died this morning. He was our club's first President & remained active and involved throughout his lifetime...."
Exterior view of Coleman Coliseum from 2016 when students camped outside to procure tickets for an upcoming sporting event.
Marlaire, a native of Bradley, Ill., started at point guard for Alabama from 1953 to 1956 and graduated from the university with a business degree after a historic run with the Crimson Tide . He and his wife, Vicki, both alums, shared their love for the University of Alabama for 67 years until her death in 2023.
Alongside Dick Gunder, George Linn, Dennis O'Shea and Jerry Harper, Marlaire's final season with the Crimson Tide saw Alabama finish 21-3, putting itself in the record books as one of a handful of teams to stay perfect in conference play.
Marlaire's time in Tuscaloosa also included nicknames such as "Alabama's Hardwood Quarterback" and "Mr. Long Distance" and accolades like All-SEC Honors as a sophomore. For his contributions in college and beyond, Marlaire was named an SEC Basketball Legend in 2008 and received the university's Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award.
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After college, Marlaire played professionally before ultimately deciding to return to Alabama and plant roots around Birmingham, where he would work as an executive for Baggett Transportation.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 'Rocket 8' Alabama basketball legend Leon Marlaire has died
