A TRIBUTE TO
BILL HUDGENS
BY
JENNY LOU HENDERSON-BURGESS
Class of 1956
on my life as well as on the lives of many other students
arrived in Lepanto to teach at Lepanto High School. Even
though he was incredibly young when he came to us he brought
an enthusiastic approach to teaching that inspired each of his
students to search, inquire, question and especially to learn.
Mr. Hudgens did this because his goal was to teach as many
students as he could as much as he could. He was talented
and determined to teach, taking each student from where he was
to achieve higher levels just because he made everything so
interesting. He made science "come alive" and created interest
there that prepared us well and has lasted a lifetime.
Bill Hudgens was our mentor, friend and inspiration. He taught
us about responsibility, honesty and to have faith and confidence in ourselves and our ability to accomplish what we set out to do.
Perhaps most importantly, he taught us to persevere--to keep
on trying and never give-up. He was a tremendous role model
for each of us. He not only taught us through what he said but
equally by what he did and who he was.
I'm sure we all remember many individual instances of
Mr. Hudgen's caring approach and his nurturing of our lives not
only in the classroom but in extra-curricular activities as well.
As Class Sponsor, he led us in many and varied experiences
culminating in our marvelous "Senior Trip" to Washington,D.C.
and New York City. He guided us in our efforts to earn the
money for this trip and other class projects in such a manner that we welcomed and used his advice.
Bill Hudgens was what we today would call an all around
"Good Guy". He didn't do things for himself, he did them for us
and simply because they were the right thing to do. Mr. Hudgens
was perhaps one of the most important things you can have in
life--he was our friend.
Over the years, Bill Hudgens has become and remained a wonderful and cherished friend. I owe him a lot.
read a tribute to
F.M. May
by
Richard Brooks