Dwayne Huddleston Obituary, Death –I almost didn’t post on Mr. Huddleston’s passing. I couldn’t express how profoundly this man touched my life and how tiny my words would be. I am speaking up as silence is not my forte. Last spring, Mr. Huddleston watched softball next door. I led my daughters to the fence and pointed him out. Yes, “girls that man right there is a legend and you are so lucky you get to see and meet him.” I suggested they introduce themselves since they would be proud to know him. I told them he was my mentor and shared some memories. They probably didn’t understand the situation, but they realised I cared, so they indulged me, were respectful, and even went to talk to him.
It made me proud. As a girl, I never played for Mr. Huddleston. I still learned everything from him. For three years as the baseball team’s stat girl, I followed him in the dugout, bus, and practices every spring. He taught me how to keep score (which my coworkers know is a tedious task I don’t trust to many), calculate stats, and determine which ones are most important, and call all the papers and radio stations to give them game highlights and info after every game (which I hated), but it taught me so much more than sports Coaching has been my vocation for about 30 years, starting as his student and then as his “assistant” on the squad.
Previously, I coached similarly to him, especially in odd situations (old school ). I share his passion and dedication to game purity. His example reminded me how important accountability, responsibility, and honesty are in sports and leadership. I’ve told dozens of “HUD” stories, shared a lesson I learned from him, described how he handled a situation, and wondered “what would Hud do?” during every season, sport, or team I’ve played. Imagining he will be missed is absurd. His absence will be felt, but I take joy in the fact that he is still here because he influenced coaches, teachers, patents, and students. Players will be affected by his legacy. That approaches immortality. If you played for, against, or with me, you met Mr. Huddleston, and I think we’re better for it.
