Basketball Court Named In Honor Of “Coach Shep”’

MOBILE, Ala. — The basketball court at Mobile’s Herndon-Sage Park was recently named in honor of Marion J. Shepard, Jr., according to Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “Coach Shep,” as he was often called, was hired by Mobile’s Parks and Recreation Department as a coach in 1969. He spent 50 years with the department, including three decades as the city’s sports coordinator. He passed away in 2020 shortly after his retirement. Shepard had a hand in shaping Mobile’s recreational offerings and was instrumental in creating and sustaining events that continue to give children and adults opportunities to participate and compete in recreational sports, according to Stimpson. He was also project manager during the construction of the Herndon-Sage Park basketball court. Members of his family and former colleagues, as well as current and former local officials, were on hand to recognize his lingering contributions to Mobile and its citizens.