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It was a tradition that lasted for years.
Every Thursday – normally a few minutes before 7 pm during the football season – Walt Gary would arrive at the sports facilities of the University of Alabama. He will briefly meet with Crimson Tide football head coach Nick Saban to give his predictions for the match this weekend.
For Walt, a 36-year-old man born with Down syndrome, being able to spend time with Saban and the players was great.
"I'm proud of both coaches and players," Walt told ESPN in 2018. "These people are my friends and I know what they can do."
On Thursday, Walt died after several days in a coma at the intensive care unit of UAB hospital. His grandmother, Betsy Shirley, confirmed that Walt, who had health problems during his life, had bleeding in his brain before his death.
"He was always so full of joy and loved the scarlet tide," wrote Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, following the death of Walt. "We will fail to see him in the department."
On Friday, Saban issued a statement following Gary's death:
"Walt Gary was a special part of Alabama's football program and our heart is shattered by the news of his passing," said Saban. "He was loved by all members of our team, our sports department and the entire Alabama family, and our thoughts and prayers were with his family, friends and all who knew and loved Walt as much as we did. Thursday night radio show was won, do not be the same without hearing his match prediction and seeing his infectious personality, Walt will be missed. "
Walt's mother, Betsy, told Southern Living in 2017 that having Walt changed her life.
"It really helped change my priorities," she said. "The things that I thought were important were not that important anymore."
When Walt was in sixth grade, his mother contacted Gene Stallings, the Alabama coach, a family friend whose son, John Mark, also had Down syndrome, to spend time with him. Stallings did better: he often invited Walt to football practice.
A student at Central High School, he was elected "School Spirit" and also attended Crossing Points, a program for children with special needs.
For over 20 years, Walt has been involved in Crimson Tide football, going to training and meeting with Saban and his team once a week during the football season. During the day, Walt held a full-time job at UA's Supe Store.
Various actors spoke at length about Walt's positivity.
"This kid is always happy and when he sees a football player, he becomes happier and when he becomes super happy, it's as if it's starting to become contagious," said quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at ESPN's Last year.
"Walt is one of the people who, in my opinion, expresses the spirit and tradition of Alabama football," Saban told ESPN.
Betsy said that Walt's enthusiasm for life could be summed up in the way he always said he was suffering from "Down syndrome" instead of Down syndrome.
"He sees the cup half full instead of half empty and he's just a positive person and that has, I think, been translated for other people," she told ESPN. "They see him in Walt."
No funeral arrangements were announced on Friday.
Contact Drew Taylor at [email protected] or 205-722-0204.
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