The John Pruett Collection: A Final Offering, Humbly Served

"He's one of the best writers that ever covered me while I was coaching. He was honest." Sonny Smith, from the Foreword

For more than four decades, John Pruett had one of the best seats in sports. He covered legends and rivalries. He witnessed triumphs and heartbreak. He traveled from packed SEC stadiums to the Masters and the Kentucky Derby. He was there for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Through it all he wrote with the wit and humanity that made him one of Alabama's most respected sportswriters.

The John Pruett Collection: A Final Offering, Humbly Served gathers the stories Pruett wanted remembered. Inside are Bear Bryant and Shug Jordan. There is Alabama and Auburn. There are famous coaches and hometown heroes. There are unforgettable games and moments that reached far beyond sports. These pieces capture the people behind the headlines and preserve an era when great sportswriting was as much about character as competition.

John Pruett was one of the most highly decorated and widely respected sportswriters in the Southeast. He covered a diverse range of sports and personalities in his 42 years at The Huntsville Times, during which he was named Alabama Sports Writer of the Year 17 times and was presented the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame's most prestigious journalism honor.