FLORENCE, Ala. -- Former University of North Alabama quarterback and 1973 UNA graduate Randy Elmore has established an endowment to support the Athletic Department's annual fund.
 
Elmore is naming the endowment in honor of his parents, the late Joe and Daryle Elmore.
 
UNA Athletic Director Dr. Josh Looney said this gift is the first athletics endowment to support the greatest needs priorities of the department. The Joe and Daryle Elmore Athletics Endowment will provide monies for funding scholarships, supporting academic programs, hiring coaches, offering top-notch medical care, building state-of the-art athletic facilities and supporting emerging priorities of the athletic department as determined by the Athletics Director. The Elmore's endowment fund will be available for anyone to contribute toward and, as it grows, more unrestricted funds will be made available to benefit the Athletics Department and its more than 300 student-athletes. Anyone wishing to give to the Joe and Daryle Elmore Athletics Endowment can do so HERE and select Joe & Daryle Elmore Athletics Endowment in the "Designation" dropdown.
 
"North Alabama Athletics is incredibly grateful for the generosity and leadership of Randy Elmore and his family," Looney said. "The establishment of an athletics endowment fund is a significant milestone as we conclude our NCAA Division I transition process this summer. This endowment will not only make a difference for current UNA student-athletes, but sets the foundation for elevation and growth that will positively impact future Lions for years to come."  
 
"I wanted to do something in recognition of the contributions that UNA made to my parents," Elmore said. "They were always very fond of UNA and proud that they attended school there. This is in appreciation for what UNA did for my parents, and now that we are Division I, we want to be Division I alumni."
 
A Florence, Ala., native, Randy Elmore played quarterback on UNA football teams from 1969-72 and was a starter for the Lions in 1970 and 1971.
 
A member of the UNA Team of the Decade for 1969-78, Elmore threw for 1,318 yards in 1970 and another 1,527 in 1971. He accounted for more than 1,700 total yards in each of those seasons. He completed 201 of 444 career passes for 2,903 yards and 11 touchdowns and still ranks 13th in school history for career passing yards.
 
His father, Joe Elmore, played for the UNA Lions from 1950-53, graduated from the school in 1955, and was later inducted into the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 in the fifth induction class.
 
He led the team in passing in 1951 (565 yards), 1952 (717 yards) and 1953 (681 yards) and led the team in rushing in 1952 with 764 yards on 153 carries for a 4.6 average. During his career he threw for 1,963 yards and had 3,051 total yards, with 1,088 yards rushing. He threw for 33 touchdowns in his career, which still stood as a school record at the time of his induction. He also threw 12 touchdown passes in a single season.
 
He accounted for 38 career touchdowns with the Lions and his  passing efficiency rating in 1953 was among the best in school history at 134.2. He rushed for more than 100 yards in a game on at least three occasions with 121 yards against Middle Tennessee State, 136 against Union and 137 against Central Arkansas, all in 1952. He was selected as a team captain in 1952 and 1953 and is one of just 12 Lion players all-time to have ever been selected as a team captain in two different seasons.
 
A 1955 UNA graduate, he was selected for the Times Daily Team of the Decade for 1949-58. After a two-year stint in the Army, he enjoyed a successful coaching career that included stints at Palmetto, Aliceville and Carrollton high schools. He later served as an administrator at Pickens Academy and Reform. He also returned to help the Lions as an assistant coach in 1968 and 1969.