Blazers remember Ogg with scholarship
Published 12:48 pm Sunday, May 30, 2010
- Mt. Olive native Alan Ogg, seen here in a UAB game against Auburn from the 1980s, is being memorialized by the Blazers with a scholarship in his name. Ogg, who starred for Gardendale High School and played three years in the NBA, died last November due to complications from a staph infection.
Alan Ogg, the 7-foot-2 “gentle giant” who thrilled basketball fans at Gardendale High, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and in the pros, is being memorialized by his old college team.
UAB’s athletic department announced Thursday that it has begun rasing $25,000 for the Alan Ogg Memorial Scholarship, which will go to a student-athlete at UAB.
Ogg, who graduated Gardendale in 1986 and played four years for the Blazers. He still holds career records for blocked shots, and has the third-best career field-goal percentage in Blazer history.
Ogg went on to play in the National Basketball Association, mainly with the Miami Heat. After his NBA days, he played in several international leagues, retiring in 2001.
Ogg returned home to live in Mt. Olive. He died on November 1 due to complications from a staph infection. He was 42.
“Alan Ogg’s name will always be synonymous with the outstanding tradition of UAB Basketball,” said Leon Ryan, UAB’s associate athletic director for development, in a statement released by the university.
“He remained an active supporter of our program and part of the Blazer family, and we feel it is absolutely appropriate that we create the Alan Ogg Memorial Scholarship in his honor.
“We are confident and optimistic that Blazer fans, the Gardendale community and others touched by Alan will support this endeavor.”
Donations may be made to UAB Athletics with “Alan Ogg Scholarship Fund” in the memo line of the check. They may be sent to Ryan at UAB Blazer Boosters, Bell 305, 1530 3rd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294-3340.
For more information, call 612-3314.
