Gerald B. "Tuffy" Hudson, a well-known sportsman, died Monday, July 22, 2013, at his home in Florence. He was 75.

The service to celebrate his life will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Carl Bright officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held in Mullen Hall from noon until service time. Following the service, the ashes will be placed in the Memorial Garden at the church. During the service, UNA football players from the 1957-1960 seasons are invited to sit together near the family.

Tuffy was a 1956 graduate of Deshler High School. He was Vice-President of his Senior Class, member of the "D" Club, President of the Key Club, member of the Speech Club, Boy's State and Vice-President of the Honor Society.

He lettered in football and was All Tri-Cities and All State, played basketball and baseball, was a Hi-Y delegate and was voted Who's Who Best Personality. In 1955, he won the W.H. Butler Scholastic and Football Trophy.

In 1961, he received a B.S. degree from Florence State College. He lettered in football and was Co-Captain of the team, a member of the "F" Club and P.E. Club. He was on the 1960 Florence State College Football team that claimed the first conference championship in school history.

He was later inducted into UNA's Athletic Hall of Fame and Colbert County Athletic Hall of Fame. He was named to the offensive line of the 50th Anniversary (1949-1999) University of North Alabama Football Team. He was also chosen as an offensive lineman for the UNA Team of the Decade for 1959-1968.

He had worked at the Huntsville Boy's Club and had been Director of the Port Authority of Florence. He served 40 years in the 115th Signal Battalion, Alabama National Guard, retiring as a warrant officer.

Tuffy served as a volunteer Florence policeman through the VIP program. He was interested in the Red Cross, YMCA and was a board member of the UNA Sportsman Club. He was a past president of the UNA Alumni Association and coordinator of the UNA Karnes Golf Tournament. He was given the YMCA Spirit Award in 1996 and was voted 2003 UNA Fan of the Year.

He enjoyed golf, gardening, supporting UNA athletic events and was an usher at church.

Tuffy is survived by his wife of 51 years, Brenda Sailors Hudson; sons, Gerald Blake Hudson Jr. and wife, Hunt, of Huntsville, and Benjamin Marshall Hudson and wife, Cathleen, of Birmingham; grandchildren, Harrison H. Hudson, of Huntsville, and Benjamin M. Hudson Jr., Claudia Ann Hudson and Lucy Cathryn Hudson, all of Birmingham; sisters, Dorothy H. White, of Atlanta, and Brenda Gail Hudson, of Leighton; nieces and nephews, David H. White and wife, Laura, of Atlanta, Tamatha R. Moreland, Leighton, Christopher R. Moreland, Leighton, Ann Martin Vitti and husband, Vince, of Atlanta, Amy H. Wilbanks and husband, Dan, of Knoxville, Allison P. Andry and husband, Erik, of Baton Rouge, and Brandon Potts and wife, Mary Beth, of Tunica.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin H. Hudson, of Tuscumbia; a brother, Charles M. Hudson, of Atlanta; niece, Deborah L. Phillips; nephew, William R. White, of Atlanta; sister-in-law, Ann Harris; and brothers-in-law, Gene Harris and Robert M. Potts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the UNA Sportsman Club, P.O. Box 426, Florence, AL 35631, and the Trinity Episcopal St. Francis Fund, c/o Trinity Episcopal Church, 410 N. Pine Street, P.O. Box M, Florence, AL 35631.