As the long-time coach of the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, Paul “Bear” Bryant led the team to six national championships, 24 bowl games, 13 conference titles, and three undefeated seasons. He is widely considered the greatest college football coach of all time.

Paul William Bryant was born to William Monroe and Ida Kilgore Bryant September 11, 1913, in rural Cleveland County, Arkansas. His birth certificate lists Kingsland as the place of birth as it was the nearest town. Moro Creek was the nearest geographic landmark. The local farmers identified with the creek’s bottom land as home, hence the references to Bryant being from “Moro Bottom.” He was the 11th of 12 children born to the couple; three others had died in infancy. Bryant was raised in the poor rural South. His father was disabled much of his life, forcing Bryant and his siblings to work on the family farm.

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Encyclopedia of Alabama

Photos Courtesy of: University of Alabama