Ozark honors football star Wilbur Jackson with downtown mural (photos)
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Last week, the City of Ozark, Alabama honored former high school, college and NFL great Wilbur Jackson with a mural.
The giant painting is located at 100 North Merrick Avenue in downtown Ozark and is a part of the ongoing Ozark Mural Program.
Take a look at the mural from photos supplied to us by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Pretty awesome.
A Pioneer
An All-State wide receiver for Ozark’s Carroll High School, Jackson was the first black player offered a football scholarship and signed by Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
While at Alabama, Jackson earned consensus All-America honors and was named All-SEC in 1973, He was also selected the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club SEC Back of the Year.
Alabama was 32-4 in his three years at the Capstone and a member of the 1973 National Championship team. Jackson’s 7.2 yards per carry for his career is still a school record.
If you want to learn more about Wilbur Jackson’s pioneering career, the University released a 50th anniversary video last year recognizing and celebrating the integration of Alabama Football.
NFL & Super Bowl
After he finished his college football career, Jackson was picked in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft the following year, He played five seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and three with the Washington Redskins.
He did play on the winning Super Bowl XVII Washington team – making Jackson one of the very few football players to have earned both college and NFL rings.
In 2007, Jackson was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF)
Talented and Humble
According to AHSAAnow Jackson is considered one of the most talented and humble players in UA history. When his playing days were over he returned back to Ozark and has been one of its leading citizens ever since.
Several notable athletes attended the event, including Joe Kelly, a former Carroll and UA quarterback, Dexter Wood, a UA teammate and Bama Basketball legend and fellow Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Leon Douglas.
Additional info
Want to learn more about the Ozark Mural Program – visit www.ozarkal.gov.
