Leon Richard Marlaire

Leon Richard Marlaire, age 90, of Vestavia Hills, Alabama passed away Thursday, January 23, 2025. Public viewing will be Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, Alabama from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. at Southern Heritage Cemetary, Pelham. Leon was born in Bradley, Illinois. He attended and graduated from Bradley High School in 1952 where he received many athletic awards and honors. He earned a total of 15 letters in football, basketball, baseball and track in four years. He was selected for both All Conference High School football and basketball honors and the Chicago Tribune All-State Basketball team. He was recruited for athletic scholarships at several colleges and universities. He accepted a basketball scholarship offered at the University of Alabama by Coach Johnny Dee. While at Alabama from 1952 to 1956, Leon was the starting point guard for the University’s celebrated “ROCKET EIGHT” basketball team. He was an All Southeastern Conference player on Alabama’s 1956 SEC Championship basketball team that was undefeated and ranked 5th in the nation. He was the Most Valuable Player in the first Birmingham Basketball Classic in 1954 and selected first team/All tournament team in the 1954 Southwest Conference Tournament. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS Degree in Commerce and Business Administration in 1956. It was at the University that Leon met the love of his life, Willa Dean “Vicki” Vickers. They were married in her hometown of Talledega, AL on August 25, 1956. After graduation, they moved to Denver where he played professional basketball for the Denver/Chicago Truckers in the NIBL. Two years later, he retired from professional basketball and was transferred to New Jersey for a management position. Soon after that, he took an executive position with Baggett Transportation in Birmingham. Alabama. He served at Baggett for forty seven years until his retirement in 2007. While at Baggett he served as company representative to the National Defense Transportation Association and Munitions Carriers Conference (MCC). Over the course of his career, he was elected Chairman, Vice President and President of the MCC-representing thirteen nationwide trucking companies. He served five years on the Board of Directors of the Birmingham and Central Alabama Better Business Bureau and he was a member of the Birmingham Sales and Marketing Club. Leon served six years in the Army National Guard. Both Leon and Vicki were avid sports fans and continued their support of the Alabama Crimson Tide throughout their lives. Leon was a member of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association and received the Paul W. Bryant Alumni Award in 2017. He was a member of the University of Alabama A-Club, serving as President (2 years), Vice President (2 years), Chairman of the Board (2 years), and Executive Committee (2 years). He was nominated for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, inducted in the Bradley High School Hall of Fame in 2001, and inducted into the State of Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. He was honored in 2008 as a Southeastern Conference Basketball Legend. He was a Charter member of both the Birmingham Red Elephant Club and the Birmingham Touchdown Club, as well as a member of the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club. As a charter member and founder of the Birmingham Tip-Off Club, he served as the Charter President for two years and was honored in 1999 as the recipient of the Leon Marlaire Award which is presented to a member for outstanding service and dedication to basketball. Leon was very grateful for the awards and honors given to him and for all the special attention he received during and after his athletic career. He wanted everyone to know how much he appreciated and credited his family, coaches, teachers, teammates, friends, and last but not least, the University of Alabama for helping to make his participation in athletics a rewarding experience in his life. Leon will be remembered for his love of the Lord, his one true love “Vicki,” his family, and Crimson Tide Basketball. Leon is survived by a host of nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Willa Dean “Vicki” Marlaire, his parents Leo and Carrie Marlaire, brothers Art Marlaire and Mark Marlaire, and sisters Frances Ehrich, Lorraine Knickerbocker, Susan Cotter, and Teresa Delabre. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Birmingham Tip-off Club, Monday Morning Quarterback Club or the charity of your choice.