Alvin Moore, a man who has gained an outstanding reputation for his extraordinary work ethics in whatever venture he undertakes, will receive the Roscoe Nance Lifetime Achievement Award at the SWAC Alumni Association’s Legends Awards and Roast on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Flowood, Miss. The event will be held at the Sheraton Refuge Hotel and Conference Center, beginning at 7 p.m.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Moore entered Alcorn State University on a football scholarship in 1967 after graduating from Carver High School. Moore’s distinctive qualities throughout his life as an athlete, coach, administrator, tireless supporter of Alcorn State and church activities are legendary. He signed with Alcorn State out of high school as a defensive lineman. He was switched to offensive tackle his sophomore season and was named to the All-SWAC team. The next year when the Braves’ starting center and backup center went down with injuries, Moore was moved to center, where he flourished. He had the task of blocking some of the SWAC’s best defensive linemen. When Alcorn State played Tennessee State, Moore had to block TSU’s 1974 number one NFL draft choice, Ed “Too Tall” Jones.
During the three years Moore was a starter on the offensive line (1968, 1969 and 1970), the Braves won two outright SWAC championships and tied for the league title once. Alcorn State won back-to-back Black College National Championships in 1968 and 1969. After completing his eligibility at Alcorn State in 1971, he signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
After graduating from Alcorn State, Moore returned to Birmingham and served 42 years as a high school coach and educator. He served as the head basketball coach, assistant football coach and athletics director at Phillips High School (1993-2000). In 2001, Phillips closed, and he transferred to Carver High and served in the same position until he retired in 2014.
As a high school basketball coach, Moore guided his teams to more than 600 wins and four appearances in the semifinals or finals of the state tournament. At least five of his teams won 26 or more games. Moore coached the Alabama all-star teams in 1975 and 2003, both resulting in victories.
Moore was inducted into the Alcorn State Sports Hall of Fame for football in 2006 and the Alcorn State Hall of Honors in 2013. He was also inducted into the Alabama High School Athletics Association Hall of Fame in 2014. He has continued to be actively involved in Alcorn State clubs and alumni affairs. He currently serves as President of the Birmingham Alcorn State Alumni Chapter and President of the Alcorn State A-Club. Under his leadership, more than $100,000 has been donated to Alcorn State’s Department of Athletics and over $5,000 to the university for other uses. Moore has served as Chaplin and Sergeant at Arms of the Alcorn State National Alumni Association.
Moore has been an active member of the SWAC Alumni Association for many years, where he serves on the Board of Directors and holds the position of Treasurer/Business Manager.
A man of faith, Moore has been a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church since 1984, chairing the Deacon Ministry and leading the Married Couples Ministry. He also serves on the Finance Committee. His religious awards and leadership include Man-of-the-Year for National Baptist Laymen, President of Alabama State Baptist Laymen, President of Northwest State District Laymen, President of Peace Baptist District Laymen and former Director of National Baptist Junior Laymen.
Moore likes to compare himself to the biblical Job. He was stricken by a rare disease in 1976 which left him completely paralyzed for several months. With hard work and many hours of physical therapy, he was able to completely recover. His motto for living is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The Association’s Legends Awards and Roast annually honors former student-athletes as well as former or current coaches, athletics administrators or staff members who have had positive impacts on the historic conference. Proceeds from the Legends Awards and Roast benefit the SWAC Alumni Association’s Degree Completion Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to student-athletes in the conference whose eligibility has expired and who are within 30 hours of graduating.