LEE DEFORE, AUBURN ALL-AMERICAN IN 1960S, REMEMBERED

[augolf1716 22,282]

One of the better players Auburn ever had. Use to listen to the games he played in on the AM station. RIP Lee

AUBURN, Ala. — Lee DeFore, the first Auburn basketball player to score 1,000 points and an All-American in the 1960s, never forgot his athletic roots. He became president of the Auburn Lettermen's Club.

DeFore, 71, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

DeFore was Auburn's all-time leading scorer after establishing nine school scoring records when he was drafted by the NBA's New York Knicks in the fourth round following the 1966 season. Even now, he is 16^th on Auburn's all-time scoring list. He led the SEC in scoring his senior year.

DeFore was Auburn's Basketball Legend at the 2006 SEC Tournament.

Bill Alexander, also an Auburn basketball player in the 1960s, admired DeFore on and off the court.

"First of all, I remember him as the person that he was. Absolutely impeccable character," Alexander said. "We could see his basketball skills from a statistical perspective. They speak for themselves.

Obviously, he was a great player, a good teammate. But when I think of Lee, it's just the guy that he was. He was a solid citizen."

DeFore and Alexander were instrumental in starting the basketball Lettermen's Club.

"He was active from the beginning. He was instrumental in it," Alexander said.

On the court, Alexander said DeFore "was a shooter supreme. If you left him alone, he was deadly. Shooting was his forte."

Off the court, "he was a quality individual. We had our successes on the basketball court, the football field, the baseball diamond, but what do we take from there and apply it to life? That's what really makes a difference. His success in basketball gave him opportunities in life. What he took from that made him the person that he was. That's the great thing."

He led Sylvan Hills High in Atlanta to two state championships. He was Auburn's team captain.

He moved to Hoover in 1974 and worked with Cobb Theatres as vice president of marketing and concessions. He also worked with Office Depot in corporate sales before retiring in 2007. He was an active member of Hunter Street Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Anna DeFore; sons, Matt DeFore and Michael DeFore; and grandchildren, Brannon, Brett, Mary Tate, Rachel, and Kevin.

[AU64 10,122]

Yep, knew him casually back in the day when I think Auburn athletes were more accessible to the general student body. Had many opportunities to shoot warm-ups with him and other members of the '65-66 team while in grad school and writing for the Plainsman. And as noted in the news item, he was a deadly shot.....and an all around good guy.

[autigeremt 7,460]

War Eagle, Lee! Never met or knew him but we all lost a brother.

[jpchurch 2]

Mr. Defore was an incredible person and family man. I am friends with his son Michael and was at the funeral. It truly meant a lot to the family for all the support from his high school and Auburn teammates. Also, Coach Bruce Pearl and Coach Chuck Person came by to pay their respects. It truly speaks volumes to what it means to be a part of the Auburn Family and also the direction of our future program with the character shown by our coaches today! I know the family was very pleased to see Mr. Defore remembered by the them!

War Eagle and God Bless

[Mikey 16,781]

He was a senior my first year at Auburn. I didn't know him personally but he was a great player and everyone that did know him had nothing but good things to say. RIP Lee!

[augolf1716 22,282]

Mr. Defore was an incredible person and family man. I am friends with his son Michael and was at the funeral. It truly meant a lot to the family for all the support from his high school and Auburn teammates. Also, Coach Bruce Pearl and Coach Chuck Person came by to pay their respects. It truly speaks volumes to what it means to be a part of the Auburn Family and also the direction of our future program with the character shown by our coaches today! I know the family was very pleased to see Mr. Defore remembered by the them!

War Eagle and God Bless

Thanks for sharing