Page 22 - Coffee County

liked being on campus, and he had time to do some volunteer coaching and umpiring around the community.

In 1966, Tom Williams, the city’s recreation director, offered Huck another job, this one as athletic director with the recreation department. It was an interesting opportunity, but he was happy at SGC. “I told Tom what to me was an unreal fgure for a salary. He said he would get back to me. I did not think I would hear from him again. But he called me back and said the job was mine if I wanted it,” recalls Huck. He left the college and went to work at the recreation department. It was at the recreation department that Huck became an inspiration to tens of thousands of young people for over three decades.

Huck has always had two passions – young people and sports. At the recreation department, he was able to combine the two, and have fun at the same time. He oversaw the city’s recreation program, and still did some coaching and umpiring. He recognized the value of sports in developing character and work ethic in young people. Huck saw parallels between sports and life. The same qualities that make someone successful on the playing feld – things like hard work, perseverance, facing adversity, teamwork, giving your best – make them successful in life. Sports were more than just a way to have fun; it was a teaching tool to prepare young people to be good citizens.