“He struggled mightily with his health over the last year,” said David Alford, a senior classmate of Roberts and a quarterback for the Cougars during Roberts’ playing days. “I am sick (about his death). I am sad for everybody’s loss.”

Alford, an orthopedic doctor in Dothan who deals with feet and legs, said he last communicated with Roberts about a year ago after the former standout had to have both legs amputed and was fitted with prosthetics in Atlanta following complications from diabetes.

“I was trying to encourage him about how much prosthetics helped people and tried to help him get over that,” said Alford, describing his role as a cheerleader.

While Roberts was known mostly for his athletic achievements, he was best remembered for his jovial approach to life.

“He had a great personality,” Parrish said. “He was always smiling. He had a bubbly personality. You never saw him mad. He was a class act.”

Paul Hufham, who played basketball with Roberts and was also a senior classmate, described him as “big teddy bear.”

“Larry was as exceptional a person as he was an exceptional athlete,” Hufham said. “He was fun-loving and had a likeable personality. He was like a big teddy bear.”