Obituary of Moran O. Colburn

Moran Owen Colburn passed away at the Talladega Healthcare Center on May 11, 2012. He was 91. Services will be Tuesday May 15 at 4:00pm at Usrey funeral home a visitation will be from 3:00pm to 4:00pm Tuesday Mr. Colburn entered the Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD) when he was 10 years old. While a student, he became a member of the football team and the Boy Scouts of America. These two organizations, along with his church, became life-long passions. Moran was viewed as a valuable leader and player on the ASD Silent Warriors’ football team. He was a two time All American Schools of the Deaf football player and later became the American Athletic Association of the Deaf Coach of the Year. He was instrumental in getting the ASD enrolled in the Alabama High School Athletic Association. He was inducted into the ASD Hall of Fame as a player and coach. This year the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees named the football field in his honor. Moran was an avid University of Alabama football fan. He was teaching his great-nephews to say “Go Bama” before they could speak! Morans joined the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 29, while a student at ASD and earned the rank of Eagle. As an adult, he served as Scoutmaster for 47 years, Post Advisor for 37 years, Cubmaster for 31 years, and Indian Dance Team Coordinator for 31 years. He spent 44 years on the summer camp staff and taught many Scouts handicraft during his 39 years at the Camp Comer Trading Post which now bears his name. Moran loved nature. He and his Scouts hand-blazed the beautiful six mile Chinnabee Silent Trail. They received President Bush’s Take Pride in America award two times. Moran received numerous awards in Scouting, such as the National Silver Antelope, the Silver Beaver, and Order of the Arrow Founder’s Award; however, he was most proud of “his boys”. He served over 1,000 deaf boys in Troop 29 with 32 achieving the rank of Eagle and 11 becoming Vigil Honor Scouts. Moran led by example. He taught the importance of a strong work ethic, honesty, loyalty, service to others, and faith in Jesus Christ. He wrote, “…we should remember that hard times are an important part of life.…when it seems like our world is falling apart; we learn to reach out to God and others. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).” Moran truly had the heart of a hero. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mary Evelyn Jones Colburn, and his brother Floyd Colburn. He is survived by his niece Pam Jones and nephews David and Don Jones. He had one great niece and three great nephews who admired and loved their ‘Uncle Moran’. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greater Alabama Council Boy Scouts of America to assist in providing camp scholarships for underprivileged and/or physically challenged youth or to the First United Methodist Church.