November 3, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) new alma mater will debut today, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. at the UAB Homecoming game, when the Blazers take on the Army Black Knights at Legion Field, said UAB President Carol Z. Garrison.

The winning alma mater was written and composed by David McNeeley, 45, of Trussville. McNeeley will be introduced at the game today when the UAB Alma Mater is performed publicly for the first time. He also will claim a $250 prize.

The search for a new alma mater was announced in June and a competition was held. A committee, comprised of President Garrison and university alumni and faculty, selected the new alma mater from 42 submissions.

McNeeley works for a family-owned business and has a music studio, where he does music production for high schools, churches and beauty pageants. He graduated from Huffman High School and earned a bachelor’s of music education from the University of Montevallo. McNeeley, a former high school music teacher for five years, also wrote the alma mater for Clay-Chalkville High School.

His father, Richard McNeeley, is retired from UAB, where he was a fiscal officer at the School of Dentistry. The elder McNeeley encouraged his son to enter the alma mater competition after seeing it in the newspaper. McNeeley’s family, including his wife and three children, will accompany him to the game and alma mater debut. Writing the alma mater took several weeks, he said.

“The music part is the easy part. The words are the harder part. For some people, this just flows out of them. For me, it’s hard work. I worked very hard at it, trying to get it right,” he said.

McNeeley said he was excited to hear his composition had been chosen by UAB. “It is quite an honor,” he said.

The UAB Marching Band will first play the music to the UAB Alma Mater. The words will then be displayed and the crowd will be invited to sing along for the premiere of the song.

UAB Alma Mater

Words and Music by David McNeeley

Here in Alabama, a place of rich diversity,
Stands our Alma Mater. We cherish her integrity.
May each loyal son and daughter wear
Proudly the colors green and gold.
Praise to thee our U.A.B. Her honor we uphold.

Yearning minds of age and youth
Live and love her noble truth.
Moving ahead with blazing speed
T'wards knowledge to empow’r,
In the heart of Birmingham our U.A.B. stands proud.