Here's to You, #84

How a legacy made before me shaped who I am and the business I've built.

To most people, Bill Battle was #84, coach, and a longtime leader at the University of Alabama. To me, he was Craw.

He shaped me into who I am in more ways than he ever knew, and a little piece of Made by Mary Scott belongs to him.

Growing up with Craw
Some of my best childhood memories were on the Friday night dates he used to take my brother and me on. We would go eat dinner, go to Chuck-E-Cheese, or anywhere else the wind took us. Those moments were so fun, but they showed me that my grandfather was there for us in every season.

The start of my business
He was there for the big moments too. When I started Made by Mary Scott, Craw helped me open my first business bank account. He gave me entrepreneurial advice and made me feel like I could conquer the world. He was even the face of my very first gameday button. He was my rock, the person I could go to for anything.

What he taught me
He gave me guidance. He gave me a tough time sometimes. Then he never failed to tell me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. I try to bring the same care to my work today: showing up, paying attention to the details, and making people feel like they matter.

Carrying his legacy
For the last three and a half years of his life, I lived close to him. That was the sweetest gift. I got to see him often, and those moments became the foundation of some of my most cherished memories. Craw passed away in November 2024. So many friends, family members, players and teammates shared how much of a light he was in their lives. That showed me that the biggest part of his legacy is how he treated people. I promise that my future family will know his stories, his wisdom, his humor, his kindness, and his strength.

I'm so thankful I grew up with Craw in my life. Everything I make, I make with a little of what he taught me.