ARCHIVED PHOTO- ARCHIVED PHOTO - Former Ala. great Tommy Lewis walks the game ball to midfield before the game. For Pruett. Photo by Robin Conn.

Former Alabama. great Tommy Lewis walks the game ball to midfield before an Alabama game in 2003

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Tommy Lewis, one of the state's legendary football figures and a long-time Huntsville businessman, died Sunday after a long illness. He was 83.

Lewis, a former University of Alabama football star, became synonymous with the quote "just too full of Alabama" after an incident during the 1954 Cotton Bowl when he stepped off the sideline to knock over Rice running back Dicky Moegle, who was en route for a touchdown.

Though Lewis would say "I know I'll hear about it the rest of my life," he didn't let the moment define him. He was never comfortable with that notoriety, though he was flown to New York that year along with Moegel to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show," where he repeated the line.

Lewis went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League, was an assistant coach for one year at Alabama, coached high school football in Tallahassee, Fla. (ex-coach and current ESPN analyst Lee Corso was a neighbor and close friend) and Gadsden, then moved to Huntsville in 1960, where he became a successful State Farm insurance salesman.

A native of Greenville, Lewis was a letterman at fullback from 1951-53 and was the alternate captain of the 1953 team, which included future NFL Hall of Famer Bart Starr, who remained one of Lewis' closest friends.

Former Alabama coach Harold "Red'' Drew called him "the best player we've got'' in 1953, his senior season.

His junior year, the Tide went 10-2 and beat Syracuse 61-6 in the Orange Bowl, then Alabama won the SEC title the following year, earning an invitation to play Rice in the Cotton Bowl.

Lewis, who helped found the Huntsville Quarterback Club, serve on the board of the Huntsville Boys Club, the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church, the selection committee of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and was enshrined in the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Trader Lewis, daughter Kathy Lewis McCool and son-in-law Edward McCool of Huntsville, son Thomas David Lewis and wife Kim Brooks Lewis, daughter-in-law Dena O'Barr Lewis of Huntsville, and son Scott Edison Lewis of Huntsville.

Grandchildren include Robert David Lewis of Birmingham, Joseph Thomas Nees of Birmingham, Callie Lewis Tubb and husband Stuart Tubb of Decatur, and Brandon Scott Lewis of Huntsville. He has one great-granddaughter, Brantley Marie Lewis of Birmingham. Survivors also include sister-in-law Margaret Ann Lewis of Greenville, nephew Bill Lewis and wife Alison Lewis of Greenville, and niece Lori Lewis Brown and husband Bill Brown of Marietta, Georgia. He is preceded in death by his brother William B. Lewis; father, Arthur M. "Speed" Lewis and mother, Jimmie Sue Lewis--all of Greenville.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until 11 at First United Methodist Church, with services to follow at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Laughlin Service Funeral Home.