Tommy Hudspeth

Sherman- Thomas Joseph Hudspeth went to be with the Lord on August 5, 2016,at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer. Funeral services are under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home and will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at 10:30 am at Fusion Bible Church in Sherman, Texas. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tommy's life. The family will be available for visitation following the service.

Tommy was born November 25, 1933, in Bartlett, TX, the son of R. E. and Esther Howard Hudspeth, and was raised in Bartlett, Meridian, and Weatherford, Texas. Tommy graduated from Weatherford High School in 1951 and from John Tarleton Junior College in 1953 where he played football and participated in ROTC. He then played football at Texas A& I Kingsville, before being injured and transferring to the University of Texas where he graduated in 1956. He received his M.Ed from North Texas State University.

Tommy began his teaching and coaching career at Weatherford High School and later served in McKinney, Longview, Sherman, and Mesquite, Texas for a total of 28 years, 20 as a Head Coach and 16 as Head Coach/Athletic Director. He finished his career with a record of 131 wins, 59 losses, 7 ties; 5 District Championships, 4 undefeated seasons; and a State-Finalist team at McKinney in 1966.

Tommy served on the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors and was President of the THSCA in 1978. He was honored to coach in the THSCA All Star game in 1977 and the Texas-Oklahoma Oil Bowl in 1978. He was elected to the THSCA Hall of Honor, the Weatherford High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and the McKinney ISD Athletics Hall of Honor. In 2011 he received the Legends Award from the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas. Tommy was also honored with the WHS Distinguished Alumni Award, the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Sherman Ex-Students Association, a Distinguished Service Award from the Sherman Chamber of Commerce and a Proclamation of Honor from the Juvenile Board of Grayson County.

After leaving coaching Tommy spent 15 years in school administration as a Superintendent in Slidell, TX, followed by positions in Sherman ISD that included Principal at Sherman High School, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, and Executive Director for Pupil Services. Tommy retired in 1999 after 43 years in the school business, but came out of retirement several times, serving at Odessa Permian High School and Rockwall High School, before most recently spending two years as interim Athletic Director for Sherman ISD.

Tommy's family was one of five that founded Sherman Bible Church, where he served faithfully and was a part of two mission trips to Cuba. He has also been involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Coaches Outreach. Since retiring Tommy has worked with the Air Chapel Community Learning Center bringing faith based services to 12-17 year old boys in the Grayson County Juvenile Justice Boot Camp and has served as the Coordinator for the Timothy Project which stays in touch with former boot camp kids. Tommy will always be remembered as a man who loved the Lord and was a true servant-leader. He was known for his integrity, his leadership, and his ability to work with others. Family members are blessed to call him husband, father, and grandfather.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rena Kelly Hudspeth, and two daughters: Nikki Hermanson and husband, Mike, and Kelly Smith and husband, Scott. He is also survived by four grandchildren and their spouses: Shea Smith (Lindsay), Thomas Hermanson (Page), Braden Smith (Bekah), and Kelsey Russell (Daniel), two great-grandchildren, Joel and Beau, his brother William Howard Hudspeth, five nephews and their families, and numerous extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Air Chapel Community Learning Center, 320 South King Avenue, Denison, TX 75020 or to Fusion Bible Church, with a designation for the CubanMinistry,2515 W. Lamberth Rd, Sherman, TX 75092. The family would like to thank the staff at Guardian Hospice for their wonderful care for Tommy and to thank all who called, prayed, visited, brought food or sent cards and messages during his illness.

The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.