Dr. Paul McCrary
Class of 2011
From the time Paul McCrary could walk, it seemed a basketball was never far from his hands. His parents, Betty and Billy McCrary, nurtured his passion, even building a backyard court during his middle school years. It was a wise investment—Paul’s tireless work ethic and competitive spirit would carry him far.
McCrary’s organized basketball journey began at the Madison YMCA and flourished at Monrovia Middle School under coach Jerry Taylor. There, he helped the Hawks capture two county championships and twice earned team MVP honors. At Sparkman High, McCrary lettered as a sophomore for a 31-1 squad that finished as state runner-up, then repeated the same record as a junior while being named Best Defensive Player under coach Stanley Stafford.
For his senior year, McCrary moved to Athens High, averaging 18 points and eight assists for coach Jerry Todd’s Golden Eagles. His performance earned All-Area and All-State honors. McCrary credits his coaches—Taylor, Stafford, Todd, and Birmingham-Southern’s Joe Dean—not just for their instruction on the court, but for modeling character and integrity.
At Birmingham-Southern, McCrary set the school’s all-time assist record (544) and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007. A two-year starter, team captain, and catalyst for 41 wins, he was praised by Dean as a “hard-nosed, aggressive, playmaking guard.” Between his sophomore and junior college seasons, McCrary toured the Philippines and Korea with Athletes in Action, combining his love for basketball with Christian ministry.
After earning his degree in 1988, McCrary completed a Doctor of Dental Medicine and specialized in Endodontics at UAB. He later guided Madison Academy’s junior high girls to two county titles and now runs a thriving dental practice in Huntsville. Paul and his wife Lisa have two children, Vaughn and Murphy, who both attend Bob Jones High School.
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