Orange Beach Elementary Students Tour ASAMA
Community leaders and local Alabama Crimson Tide fans gathered at the United States Sports Academy Tuesday evening for autographed copies of a new book about Paul "Bear" Bryant and to see the work of a top-selling Alabama sport artist.
Dr. E. Gaylon McCollough recently released "The Long Shadow of Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant," an account of Alabama football's transition after Bryant. A prominent Baldwin County plastic surgeon, McCollough was the center on the 1964 University of Alabama national championship football team. McCollough signed copies of the book for readers while 2005 Academy Sport Artist of the Year Daniel A. Moore displayed a selection of his works drawn from college football. Moore also showed his own book, "Iron Bowl Gold," featuring his paintings of classic moments in the Alabama-Auburn rivalry accompanied by reprinted Birmingham News coverage.
McCollough remained close to Bryant long after his playing days, until Bryant's death a month after the coach's retirement in 1983. McCollough had performed plastic surgery for the coach late in life and belonged to the search committee seeking Bryant's replacement.
"I don't think people know that Coach Bryant was a very sick man his last couple of years," McCollough told the Montgomery Adverstiser. "He was not well at all."
McCollough's book has been praised by University of Alabama officials of the Bryant era. They note that McCollough's long relationship with Bryant adds weight to his consideration of the Bear's decision to relinquish power and build bridges intended to produce the Tide's next larger-than-life coach.
For the first time, truths about the revolving door in the head coach's office and its negative impact on the football program are revealed by someone who was actually part of the process. McCollough may be reached concerning purchase and personalizing of copies of "The Long Shadow" at the McCollough Institute for Appearance and Health, (251) 967-7000, or via e-mail at drmccollough@mccolloughinstitute.com.
Moore is widely known for his super-realistic oil paintings of sports and sports figures. His art training at the University of Alabama included emphasis in the medium of watercolor under the renowned watercolorist Richard Brough.
