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<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0In Memory of Our Departed Brothers<\/strong><\/p>\n In Memory of Lester Dan (Fluger) Fuqua – SIGMA\/ATO March 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n Our brother, Dan Fuqua, fondly remembered as “Fluger” was laid to rest this past week in Douglasville, GA, where he had lived and worked for many years with the U.S. Department of Labor.\u00a0 He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Patti, and his two sons and their families.\u00a0 Dan passed peacefully in his sleep on February 20th, 2023, his body was cremated, and his cremains were present at the service which was held in Douglasville on March 4, 2023.<\/p>\n Brothers in attendance at his funeral service were Fred Crawford, J Danny Cooper, Bobby Hand, Steve Hammond, and Wayne Burdette.\u00a0 Cooper, Hand, and Hammond were in his fraternity pledge class.<\/p>\n Some thoughts from Brother J Danny Cooper<\/strong><\/p>\n Lester Dan \u201cFluger\u201d Fuqua was lovingly remembered yesterday in Douglasville, Ga. by family, friends, co-workers and SIGMA BROTHERS.<\/p>\n Wayne Burdette, Fred Crawford, Steve Hammond (Shirley), Bobby Hand and I expressed your love and ours for Dan to Patti, Ben and Chuck. Among most special items surrounding Dan\u2019s urn was a framed Sigma Crest and his Pledge Paddle. Family members told us how often Dan talked about our brotherhood. Ours were his longest lasting friendships. We can say the same, can\u2019t we?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fred delivered a very deliberately written eulogy covering years of memories and informative comments about who Sigma’s are including listing career achievements. He drew chuckles and laughter throughout and especially when he disclosed that Dan and Brothers are known as the Montevallo Mafia! Thank you, Fred, for saying what all of us would have said except better. Fred and Dan grew close the summer Fred graduated and their brotherhood, friendship and love increased across the years. Well done Squatty Body.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The celebrations of life for our brothers seem to be more frequent. The ages have no consistency and the causes of death vary. Dan was resting in his easy chair and woke up in Heaven. Sudden. Unexpected. Final. Gone from among us. Too soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I hope each brother reading this will make it a priority to be at our reunion May 4 – 7 or for some combination of days. We need to want to have the largest number of brothers yet. We CAN do it. We CAN set a record. Haven\u2019t we always in everything we have done? Call a brother or two and ask them to register and come. Help point brothers to brothers needing a roommate. Make it easy for someone who hasn\u2019t been regular or who has never attended. We CAN do this.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Memory of Larry Benton – SIGMA\u00a0 \u00a0September 12, 2022<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA<\/p><\/div>\n OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA<\/p><\/div>\n A note from Bruce Higdon,<\/p>\n Brothers, it is with great sadness that I must inform you that Larry passed away this morning.\u00a0 Donna called me and was in tears when she broke the news.\u00a0 He fought valiantly against the scourge of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u00a0 It finally got the best of him.\u00a0 She asked me to pass the news along to his brothers.\u00a0 Larry truly loved his brothers, and we will miss him greatly.\u00a0 Personally, this has hit me just as hard as the passing of Doug Patterson.\u00a0 Life is so precious!\u00a0 We should honor Larry (and Doug) by generating every precious memory we can.<\/p>\n For those who did not know Larry as well as the original Sigma Group, I\u2019d like to share some memories.\u00a0 No one had a sense of humor like Larry.\u00a0 You never knew what he was going to do next.\u00a0 Some examples:<\/p>\n In my eyes, we have lost a legend.\u00a0 I encourage you to keep his memory alive.\u00a0 You might want to recount your own \u201cLarry Story\u201d.\u00a0 I think Larry would love that!<\/p>\n Donna will provide me details of his funeral and I will pass them on.\u00a0 Rest in peace, my brother.\u00a0 Soon we will be together.\u00a0 I suspect the Good Lord will forgive us for our shenanigans.\u00a0 BUIB, Bruce<\/p>\n Some Comments from Larry’s Brothers:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n So sad.\u00a0 He was always gracious to me.\u00a0 BUIB, Steve Hammon<\/p>\n ********************************************************************************<\/p>\n I too am deeply saddened by Larry’s passing. Yes, definitely he was an icon. I don’t know\u00a0of anyone who did not like Larry. He was such a joy to be around. He touched so many lives and added so much happiness.<\/p>\n The story I remember\u00a0best about Larry is as follows: Larry and Bruce roomed across from Stubbs and me on 3rd Napier.\u00a0It was the night before a calculus final. I had studied pretty diligently throughout the semester so, on\u00a0that\u00a0night, I\u00a0was just fine tuning myself for the final the\u00a0next morning. I’m sure Larry and Bruce were busy that semester but not necessarily because of studying calculus\u00a0I suspect. So, they\u00a0were in a bit of a bind trying to cram a semester’s worth\u00a0of learning into one evening. They\u00a0had disclosed to me earlier that\u00a0night their\u00a0innovative\u00a0plan for studying. Bruce would sleep for\u00a0an hour while Larry studied and then vice-versa. This alternating study routine would go on all\u00a0night. That was the\u00a0plan; a half night of study and a half night of sleep for each.\u00a0 What could go wrong?\u00a0<\/p>\n I closed my books around midnight and went to sleep. Sometime later there was a knock on my door. It was Benton. These were his exact words; “Hayes, you gotta help us!” I can still hear his\u00a0almost breathless, half pleading tone of voice. Apparently the Benton\/Higdon study method wasn’t working so well.<\/p>\n I remember going to their room in a groggy state and trying to do what I could. I don’t know if I was of any actual help or not but we all passed the course.<\/p>\n Batman<\/p>\n *************************************************************************<\/p>\n Thank you, Bruce. We have lost an icon\u2026. a beloved brother\u2026 one of a kind.\u00a0<\/p>\n Consistent with your story, my introduction to Benton occurred September 1963. \u00a0I had never seen Larry before, but, as I walked into the dining room, he stood, smiled broadly & greeted me with a mouth full of mashed potatoes!<\/p>\n I believe Todd encouraged him to \u201cwelcome\u201d me to AC!<\/p>\n May \u201cOur Larry\u201d RIP & may He bless Donna and give her strength.\u00a0<\/p>\n BUIB, Jack Hawkins<\/p>\n \u00a0*************************************************************************<\/p>\n He truly was the\u00a0ultimate\u00a0<\/em>ladies\u2019 man. In grad school at Auburn, instead of studying, he would attend beauty pageants or other campus events to scope out new beauties, then would call them and put on the charm. He got amazing results with his surprisingly bold, humorous approach. No one, it seemed, turned him down. At one point of the 5 final candidates for AU homecoming queen (beauties all), he had dated or was currently dating four of them!<\/em>\u00a0Cheerleader Anne Jacobs was promised to All American center Forrest Blue, and thus off the table, but he had dated Jane McKenzie from Eufaula (in HS), and then at Auburn had dated Carolyn Colvard, Suzanne (?), and cheerleader Jeanie Clayton\u2026 Stunning.<\/p>\n Among the KAs at Auburn, he of course had a reputation of squiring one beauty after another. So at one point he made phone connections with an out-of-town gal he had remembered from a few years back as being a real knock-out. He then invited her to a weekend KA party,<\/p>\n He bragged to some of the guys (something like): \u201cYou think I\u2019ve been with some good lookers, wait till you see the one I\u2019ve got coming in for the party!\u201d He went to see her into the dorm she would be staying in. All of a sudden, I heard him come flying into our apartment and slamming the door: \u201cBuell, what am I gonna do?! She\u2019s changed!! She looks awful!! What am I gonna do?!\u201d Quickly surveying his situation, he went back to the dorm, got her and told her he wanted to take her to Eufaula to meet his mother instead! — so he was able to keep his campus reputation as stud-master intact!<\/p>\n Nobody we all knew had a better sense of humor!\u00a0Back at Montevallo, there was the time that he emerged from his room in Napier (truly, in this case) \u201c\u2019buck\u2019 naked\u201d just as I was coming out of my room. He had dollar bills stuffed in his ears and under his armpits, on his head, one or two in his mouth, I think a few between his legs. They were falling off him. \u201cHey, Buell, you got a dollar I can borrow\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Little wonder that Larry had to beg me repeatedly to be his roommate at Auburn, seeing that I intended serious study there and worried that his antics would interfere with my work\u2026 But, like one after another of the beauty queens, I succumbed (though not in that way\u2026).<\/p>\n Larry was so into Larry that he loved the little late-evening sessions when I would point out, in best analytic detail, his failings, his idiosyncrasies, his weaknesses\u2026 He LOVED this, prompted me to it! So long as the topic was Benton, it was all good, and he didn\u2019t want the sessions to end! (We never did have one examining my faults and limitations\u2026)<\/p>\n What fun and laughter we\u2019ve had over the years reliving those times!<\/p>\n How I have missed him the past few seasons, and how I, all over again, miss him now!<\/p>\n A final word about Donna: She was not only the love of his life, but she was also the BEST possible companion and caregiver for him these past few years, unbelievably so! Of all the beauties he knew in his time, he hit a home run when he found and married her!<\/p>\n Buell Cobb<\/p>\n *************************************************************************************<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Steve was born July 21, 1959 in Birmingham, Al. He grew up in Bessemer and graduated from McAdory High School in 1977 as president of his senior class. He then went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a bachelors degree in accounting . He quickly became a CPA and held positions as chief financial officer and director of finance for several companies in Alabama and Tennessee.<\/p>\n Steve was die hard Alabama fan of all sports including football, basketball, softball, and gymnastics. He loved spending his Saturdays in Tuscaloosa tailgating before football games with friends. Steve also loved traveling, especially visiting the gravesite of former presidents.<\/p>\n Over the past 6 years, Steve and his wife, Ramona, traveled to numerous states and countries. Their favorite times were with family and friends anytime they could get together. They found the perfect house in Scottsboro to be close to everyone.<\/p>\n Steve was a wonderful husband, father, Grandy, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved deeply and wholeheartedly. No matter the circumstance, Steve was always there for those in need and you could always depend on him to put a smile on your face.<\/p>\n Steve was proceeded in death by his parents, Earnest \u201cBud\u201d Carr and Betty Dickey Carr; his brother, Glynn \u201cBubba\u201d Carr, and his nephew, Chase Aaron Lanke.<\/p>\n He is survived by his wife – Ramona Carr; his children\u2019s mother – Casey Carr; children – Nikki Carr (Mark), Chris Carr, and Matthew Carr; grandchildren – Hannah, Taylor, Chloe, Lily, Liam, Raiden, and Adalynn; siblings – Lynn Stephens (Paul), Cindy Huerkamp (Jefri), and Melody Lanke; nieces and nephews – Todd Stephens, Austin Huerkamp (Madeline), Drew Lanke, Jenna Huerkamp, and Rob Lanke; Ramona\u2019s daughters – Lesley Johnson (Johnny), Pamela Frazier (Timothy), Natalie Gamble Barker (Wilson), grandchildren, and a host of other relatives, colleagues, and many friends.<\/p>\n Visitation will be Tuesday, November 30, 2021 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at McCalla Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:00 AM at McCalla Funeral Home with Ryan Rosser officiating. Graveside to follow at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.<\/p>\n Pall bearers will be Austin Huerkamp, Drew Lanke, Jefri Huerkamp, Rob Lanke, Todd Stephens, Sam Hudson, Timothy Frazier, and Wilson Gamble Barker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Steven Dale Carr please visit our\u00a0Sympathy Store<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n DOUGLAS CLARK PATTERSON – SIGMA\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n On Friday, March 26, 2021, Brother Doug Patterson’s funeral was observed at Troy University.\u00a0 Many of his friends and family were present to celebrate his life, and his SIGMA Alumni brothers were also present in great numbers to remember the wonderful friendship and brotherhood we shared with Doug at Montevallo and the many reunions and other occasions where we visited with him over the past 50+ years.\u00a0 Some pictures of the celebration are posted below:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In Memory of a Great Man and Brother – by Brother Jack Hawkins (Troy’s Official Announcement of Doug’s Passing is at the end of this tribute.)<\/p>\n Over the past 58 years I can remember few days during which Doug & I didn\u2019t talk or visit.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n We entered college same day, lived on 3 Napier & pledged Sigma together.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n We took oath into USMC Officer Program same day January 1964. On to Quantico summers 1964 & 1966 together for boot camp, same platoon.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Graduated together and commissioned 2Lt\u2019s May 1967. Trained together Quantico & Camp Lejeune NC Aug 1967 – March 1968.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 4April 1968 flew together on same plane from Mobile Alabama to Vietnam. While in Vietnam we \u201ccreated\u201d several\u00a0 opportunities to see each other + Jack Davis. You might remember the newsletter we published November 1968 & sent home to Sigma Brothers!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n We flew out of Nam same flight May 1969. 18 months later we returned to UM for graduate school and completed Masters degrees 1971.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Remained close over next several years.\u00a0 September 1979 I was appointed President of Alabama\u00a0 Institute Deaf & Blind. Doug was my first hire as Vice President. We left there together August 1989 when I accepted role of Chancellor. He became a Senior Vice Chancellor<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n We worked together at Troy until he retired in2007\u2013 but remained with me in a part time role until his death this morning at 0436 am. For his dedication to Troy U we named a building in his honor<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n There is no one I have respected more than Doug. I loved him as my brother. He is gone… but never forgotten.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n BUIB<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Jack Hawkins<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Chancellor<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n **************************************************************<\/p>\n The following pictures are a collection of photos taken of Brother Doug Patterson spanning 50+ years, showing the brotherhood he shared with all of us.\u00a0 There is no particular order to the memories, and we welcome any other photos or notes you would like to add to this site honoring our brother.\u00a0 Just email them to me and I will post them to this site.<\/p>\n ********************************************************************<\/p>\n I knew Doug as a brother, a fellow soldier-in-arms, and a great friend. Irreplaceable in all of those categories, Doug will be sorely missed by all of his brothers. W. Burdette<\/p>\n It\u2019s difficult to deal with because we had a giant among us and he is now in the presence of the Lord. Each of us is going to miss Doug for multiple reasons. But for all of us, Doug was a true Brother, he cared about us and our families, he engaged us in conversations on topics he knew were important to us and so much more.<\/p>\n Dianne and I are praying for Lise and Natalie and for you too Bruh.<\/p>\n I love each of you, BUIB Coop<\/p>\n Brothers, what a loss we all have experienced. Doug was a brother that was easy to love and always cared about his brothers. Can’t imagine our Sigma Spring Outing without him. God bless his family and those brothers that saw him often. BUIB, T Bone<\/p>\n I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Doug’s passing this morning. It is hard to find words that would express the true depth, the love and the appreciation I know all of us have for our dear Brother Doug Patterson, may in rest in peace. After being away for nearly 54 years, I find it difficult to remember all the special events, interactions and moments of unique fraternal love that I and frankly all of us shared with Doug in our glorious days at Montevallo. What I do remember is that he was always right in the thick of things with his brothers no matter what the occasion. I remember him on the football and softball field, on the boulder projects, at the various parties. He was, like many, a shining example of the qualities espoused in the Sigma creed.<\/p>\n Doug was an honorable and loyal friend and Brother. He was a notable competitor, a gracious winner, a Marine and patriot, he was kind and respectful of others, hard working yet fun loving and he lived life to it’s fullest. Needless\u00a0to say, he was the kind of person that could be admired by all. As we all get older, one by one, the “Sigmas of the Sixties” will regroup together in heaven for our eternal reunion.<\/p>\n God bless and comfort Doug’s family.<\/p>\n Till we met again Brother<\/p>\n BUIB<\/p>\n Mike DeMonia<\/p>\n I am writing this after just hearing of Brother Doug’s passing. He was special.\u00a0 We were close, but got even closer after his son’s death.\u00a0 David Palmer<\/p>\n As were all of you, I was shocked and feel a great sense of loss on hearing of Doug’s demise. Doug had the ability of making those he was with feel they were in the presence of a good friend.\u00a0 He was easy going, interested in what your life was like, and slow to criticize.\u00a0 He reminded me of one of my mother’s admonitions-“If you can’t say something good about a person, just don’t say anything at all.”\u00a0 He demonstrated the ideal of being slow to judge others unless and until you walked several miles in their shoes. He had the ability to laugh at himself and saw humor in lots of situations. He knew how to enjoy the simple things in life-friendship, family, and a good laugh. Even though he was a tough Marine, down deep, he was a selfless, gentle and loving soul. I count it a privilege to have known him and will continue to try to live and learn from the way he lived his life.\u00a0 Bill Heron<\/p>\n Blake your memo along with the others explains why I feel so sad. Doug was so very special. \u201cMay his memory be eternal\u201d,\u00a0Pharo<\/p>\n This news leaves me deeply stunned and saddened. It\u2019s hard for me to express my feelings, at this moment. \u00a0I do know that I will miss him and his easygoing approach to life. \u00a0Most of us old timers have had our share of health issues over the years, and Doug was no exception. \u00a0The way he dealt with those issues is what set him apart. I will miss our trips to the Birmingham Christmas get-togethers, most, because of the chatter on the way up and back. I know the Reunions won\u2019t be the same.<\/p>\n To Lise and the rest of his family my deepest condolences.<\/p>\n RIP, Brother Doug.\u00a0 Blake<\/p>\n I have nothing but HAPPY memories of Doug.\u00a0 The most fond memory I have was at a WINTER house party, I think it was in Guntersville, when he tried to walk on the water in the swimming pool.<\/p>\n Does anyone else remember that event?<\/p>\n REST IN PEACE, my brother.\u00a0 MP<\/p>\n My prayers go out to his family and to US\u2026.his Sigma family. Very sad.<\/p>\n BUIB, Scott Waldrop<\/p>\n I remember seeing Doug at events when I was an Active in mid 70\u2019s. \u00a0 He has been born into eternity where there is joy beyond human imagination.<\/p>\n May God\u2019s comfort be upon you all who lived along side him as Sigmas. As\u00a0we all\u00a0realize the personal impact of our loss of our good friend and brother, one of\u00a0my strongest memories of Doug was that he was the type of person\u00a0and friend that made others better just because of his presence. Even more importantly, he had the ability to make sure his positive influence lasts even in his absence.\u00a0 That’s powerful!<\/p>\n Rest in peace Brother.\u00a0 L. Peevy<\/p>\n Doug Patterson was the \u201cRA\u201d on Third Napier the day I walked into my first dorm, as a green kid with very few if any skill sets.\u00a0 He will always be the face of \u201cSigma\u201d to me and took the time to keep me out of trouble (not caught) \u00a0and started me with others on this list to some of the best days of my life.\u00a0 It is the little things in life that matter and as I look at this list most of you bring back a simple moment that will always be a light in my heart.<\/p>\n BUIB\u00a0 Devere<\/p>\n Many fond memories of conversations with Brother Doug, particularly a two-man trip \u201cUp The Road\u201d and bonding over beer. We shall all miss a good man with a kind soul. Rick B.<\/p>\n We lost the epitome of the \u201cSigma Gentleman\u201d in the passing of Dr. Douglas Patterson. He was a gentle man, and a dear friend. I am left with memories and a hole in my heart. Jack Mayhall<\/p>\n I am so very sorry to hear this as I fight back the tears. What a good man. I know it sounds trite, but the world is a better place for his having been here. Ray Holland<\/p>\n I am at a loss for words. My heart is broken and the Sigma world had suffered a huge loss. Doug was such a large part of our band of brothers and touched each of us in way unique to Doug. What sorrow, what pain, what an empty spot he leaves in us all.<\/p>\n All the more reason to cherish every moment we spend together.<\/p>\n Holy Spirit please send comfort to his family and to us all as you welcome another precious soul to his eternal rest. BUIB. Rocky<\/p>\n Our beloved brother Doug passed away at UAB Hospital this morning.\u00a0 He is now in heaven reunited with his son, Chris.\u00a0 As you know, Doug suffered some major health problems in the past including a heart attack that left significant damage.\u00a0 A few days ago he was admitted into the hospital and even wrote an encouraging note about the great care he was receiving.\u00a0 Unfortunately, his heart just gave out.<\/p>\n Doug\u2019s friend, Episcopal Bishop, Dr. Glenda Curry visited with Doug early Tuesday Morning and sent the following message to Jack Hawkins at 0100 hours: \u201cI read<\/strong> prayers with him and talked with him.\u00a0 He wants to go and he\u2019s totally lucid.\u00a0 When he dies they\u2019ll call us and we will go back to be with Lise and Natalie. Could be tonight or tomorrow.\u00a0 Hard to say, Glenda\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Knowing Doug, it does not surprise us that he died on his own terms.\u00a0 As I write this, I feel my heart is holding up an anvil.\u00a0 As you do, I have so many precious memories with Doug.\u00a0 I cherish each one.<\/p>\n Please keep Lise and Doug\u2019s family in your prayers. Rest in peace, my brother.\u00a0 BUIB, Bruce<\/p>\n Sad, sad, sad day. \u00a0I will keep the family and all of us in my thoughts and prayers over this loss.<\/p>\n God Bless and\u00a0BUIB,\u00a0Joel Ellis<\/p>\n How fortunate we were to have had Doug in our lives as a friend, but even more so as a brother. Doug, to me, always was calm as all the craziness was going on around us on the hall. I will cherish memories of him and am happy there is no more pain or suffering in his life. Prayers to his family, and to us, dear brothers as we have yet another brother to watch over us.\u00a0 Greek<\/p>\n To find someone who would speak an ill word of him, how far would one have to go — in miles, or into the past by years, before acknowledging at last an impossible task!<\/p>\n So bright, so good, so fair-tempered, so full of rich humor and affection, he was the best — and ours the greater loss. Peace to his sweet family.<\/p>\n Buell<\/p>\n This is just so difficult to process. Life without Doug is hard to imagine. It is so sad but what a great man, what a wonderful life, what beautiful memories.\u00a0 Batman<\/p>\n We will all miss Doug and treasure that we were fortunate to have known him and call him Brother.<\/p>\n RIP – Brother Tiger<\/p>\n This is a sad day for all Sigmas as we morn the passing of Doug. \u00a0He always made it a point to ask about my family when I showed up for the Sigma get-to-gathers down on the beach. \u00a0My prayers are with Doug\u2019s family. Bill Sumner<\/p>\n What a very special guy. Was a privilege to know him. RIP Doug. \u00a0Big Love to all of us living this loss.\u00a0 L. Jagoe<\/p>\n Sorry to lose Doug, such a fine gentleman. Great memories of Doug.<\/p>\n Doug was my RA on 3rd floor Napier. He was nice enough to cut me some slack when I messed up. He always kept me out of trouble. Thanks Doug.<\/p>\n Prayers to Doug’s family. He will be missed.\u00a0 BUIB\u00a0 Jim Moss<\/p>\n Troy University Official Statement – 03\/20\/2021<\/p>\n Patterson remembered for his commitment, hard work and loyalty<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether leading the charge or working behind the scenes, Dr. Doug Patterson is being remembered as one who could get anything accomplished both at Troy University and through numerous roles in the community.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Patterson, who served as Vice Chancellor at TROY from 1989 until December 2007, passed away Wednesday morning.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Patterson was instrumental in developing and coordinating strategic planning for Troy University, and, while serving as Vice Chancellor, held interim positions as Provost and Vice President for Financial Affairs for the Troy Campus as well as Interim President for the Dothan Campus. In the five years prior to retirement, Dr. Patterson served as Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration. In this capacity, he directed TROY\u2019s finance and budgeting, information technology, institutional effectiveness, strategic planning and athletics. He was instrumental in the University\u2019s move to Division I-A athletics, and his stewardship made many of the new buildings on campus<\/em> possible.<\/span><\/p>\n In his retirement, Dr. Patterson worked served as Special Assistant to the Chancellor.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., TROY\u2019s Chancellor, first met Patterson in 1963 at the University of Montevallo. The two lived on the same dormitory hall and pledged the same fraternity. The two also took the Marine Corps oath at the same time in 1964, commissioned together in 1967 and, although they served in different units in combat, were aboard the same plane bound for Vietnam in 1968. They returned from Vietnam on the same plane in 1969.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Patterson served alongside Dr. Hawkins as Vice President for Instruction at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind from 1979 to 1989.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDoug Patterson was a true servant-leader and one of the finest men I have known,\u201d Dr. Hawkins said. \u201cHe was a man of strong character and was loyal to the core. Dr. Patterson loved his work with Troy University and knew every aspect of the University. He was the best I have ever seen at taking a complex problem and breaking it down. He had a great mind and his attention to detail was unmatched. I will greatly miss his wise counsel and his true friendship. His passing has left a gaping hole in my heart. My thoughts are with his wonderful wife, Lise, and their daughters, Lauren and Natalie.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Gibson Vance, President Pro-Tem of the Troy University Board of Trustees, said Patterson\u2019s strong commitment to the University will continue to impact future generations of Trojans.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDr. Doug Patterson was a great Trojan who helped shape our campus and our culture. His many contributions will positively effect generations of students,\u201d Vance said.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Patterson served 15 years as a member of the Troy City Board of Education, and including three times as chairman. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Troy Regional Medical Center.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI would be hard-pressed to think of anyone in the past 32-plus years that has been more involved and active and who has done more than Doug Patterson,\u201d said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves. \u201cIf something needed to be accomplished, Dr. Patterson was always the one that could accomplish it. He was one of the most intelligent, effective people that I have ever known. I counted him as a good friend, and I will miss him and his counsel greatly. Troy is a better place because of Doug Patterson.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n A native of Mobile, Patterson earned his bachelor\u2019s degree from Alabama College, a master\u2019s degree from the University of Montevallo and a doctorate from the University of Alabama.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In 1967, Patterson was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a platoon commander and as an intelligence officer in Vietnam.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In addition to his work with AIDB and TROY, Patterson served as a high school counselor and as the Director of Counseling and Career Services at Jefferson State Junior College (1976-1979).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In 2007, Dr. Patterson was selected as Honorary Alumnus of the Year for Troy University. In 2010 the Board of Trustees named the general academic building in his honor.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n Memorial Service – September 11, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n Opening Prayer<\/p>\n Heavenly Father, on behalf of all he served and helped, thank you for Steve Huffstutler! Thank you for the example he set that we can strive to meet. Lord, we lift up Barbara, Carol, Katherine, Chuck and all his family today. Please grant them the peace and joy that Steve would have wanted. Let this celebration be evidence that strengthens them, so that they know—so many loved Huffy; so that they know we are there for them. Father, we thank all who have traveled to join this celebration. Please grant traveling mercies and guide us safely home. We ask this in Your precious name. AMEN Today we say goodbye to Stephen Turner Huffstutler. No one in this room will ever forget Huffy.\u00a0 But those of us who loved him, and ache with his passing, know Huffy by the other titles he held: Father. Husband. Opa, Unk, or as he was called by his fraternity brother, Paul Doran: The Huffalapogus!! I\u2019d like to recount our first meeting in 1962. I was a freshman, in my first week at Alabama College; scared to death, but trying to (and this will not surprise any of our brothers) act like I was big stuff. Well, my roommate, Robert Lacy, and our dads were moving in when Huffy came by and introduced himself. He was extremely nice. He indicated he was the News Director. Well, to continue my act as big stuff, I said, \u201cI think my picture in the Decatur Daily (my hometown paper) would be a good thing for a News Director to arrange.\u201d He said, \u201cI think we can arrange that.\u201d I\u2019m thinking, \u201cYeah, right, and I can afford to buy a car!\u201d Well, to make a long story short, I\u2019ll be damned if my mom and dad didn\u2019t call a few days later and told me we were famous! Our picture was in our paper! And, you know, back then I was so pretty! This is your chance, guys to ask what the hell happened.<\/p>\n I expressed my appreciation to Huffy and told him that he was my hero. And you know, he still is. If you multiply that favor he did for Lacy & me by thousands, you can begin to picture his wonderful life of service to others. If unselfish was a nickel, Huffy would be a billionaire! This is reflected in his amazing career with the Air Force, Alabama College, The Red Cross, and FEMA! Every single duty station had one focus: to serve!!<\/p>\n Many of you know that Alabama College was a girls\u2019 school. That\u2019s one of the main reasons a lot of us attended when it changed. We liked the odds! Several of us formed Montevallo\u2019s first fraternity. We called it \u201cThe Sigma Club\u201d until we could affiliate with ATO. Us older brothers still refer to ourselves as Sigmas. Huffy was our first faculty advisor, guidance counselor, mentor. We brothers exhausted many of the above listed favors when we needed his guidance; when we needed him to help us out when we got in trouble with Dean Wilkinson for beer related pranks. I know you may not believe this but, sometimes college boys are not mature.<\/p>\n The Sigmas are a group of brothers who have maintained our close relationship until the present. It is an amazing bond. We still get together each year for a golf weekend. Last year at Gulf Shores we had 47 brothers! Huffy has been no small part of this bond. We would not have it without him. If you could be a fly on the wall at our gathering, you would see 70-year old men still acting like we were at college (except with more naps). You would see us playing tricks on each other. You would see us telling tall tales about our conquests with the coeds. After a few beers, embellishment takes over. Then what you see are untruthful studs. Huffy\u2019s sense of humor is amazing and refreshing. In his retirement years he lived close to me. We would take great delight in concocting schemes against the next \u201cvictim\u201d at our golf outing. One example is what we did to another beloved brother, Fred Crawford, better known as Squatty Body (have you noticed we like nicknames?) Fred was on Montevallo\u2019s Board of Trustees. Huffy and I, with giggles, decided to name a building on campus \u201cFred Crawford Hall\u201d. We made a beautiful sign for the occasion. We then drove to the nearest construction site, placed the sign on a Porta-Potty, and took a beautiful picture. Huffy then made round button badges with \u201cFred Crawford Hall\u201d as the picture to pass out at the gathering. It was prominently displayed that weekend.<\/p>\n In the latter part of 2016 Huffy called me. \u201cHiggie\u201d, he said, “tis I”, I have some bad news. This trouble with my pancreas has become terminal. My doctors have given me one or two months to live. But, you know Bruce, I\u2019m ok with it. I have had a wonderful life.\u201d He then asked me to officiate at his funeral. He said, \u201cI\u2019ll send the music I want played. I want it short and simple. I don\u2019t want sadness. I want people to laugh. I want any donations to go to our scholarship fund.\u201d I was in shock. I said, \u201cyou are going right on our prayer list. By golly we are going to have you at our May gathering. We will not give up!\u201d<\/p>\n I placed Huffy on our prayer list. We went to see him. Guess what, our prayers worked! He improved. God gave him strength. He made it to our 2017 golf outing. He (and God) cheated those doctors. It was miraculous and uplifting to see him there.\u00a0 He was given the gift of time that many are not, and he used that gift to touch many more lives!<\/p>\n How we will miss him! We will miss the picture of the candle he sent to each brother we placed on our prayer list. We will miss all his emails that he called \u201ctwaddle\u201d. I will miss debating politics with him. I called him a Flaky Ass Liberal! I know he is in heaven right now calling me a \u201cSkrinky Ass Conservative\u201d! We will miss his telephone greeting, \u201cHey Old Boy, tis I\u201d. We will miss his jokes. We will miss the beautiful way he had with the written word. Mostly, we will miss the \u201csecurity blanket\u201d of just having him there when needed.<\/p>\n Steve Huffstutler was the father who looked not only after his own children, but his brothers as well. We will miss him calling us his \u201cchillruns\u201d. This is how Steve Huffstutler lived. This is his legacy. Huffy, my friend, my brother, rest in peace. I\u2019m reminded of a lyric in a song we always sing at our gatherings, \u201cOur life on earth is but a span\u201d. It tells me that our time together in heaven is limitless!! I, and your brothers are on a final approach to the same runway. You just landed before us. Gaze on God\u2019s tower and stand by for some more approaches, Old Boy. I look forward to saying, \u201cHuffy, tis I, Higgie.\u201d After I hug you, let\u2019s go find and hug Moose, and JC, and Jack Davis, and James Hurt, and Steve Bailey and the rest of our brothers who are now with you. We love you. BUIB, Bruce<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>\n
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Obituary for Steven Dale Carr<\/h2>\n
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BUIB.\u00a0 Julian Davis \u00a0\u201877<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
To Barbara, Carol, Katherine, Chuck and the entire Huffstutler family. To Steve\u2019s fraternity brothers, his closest friends, and to all who loved this man we, affectionately, call Huffy.<\/p>\n
I, like so many others, for nearly half a century, knew him as a colleague, a mentor, and above all, as a friend and brother.<\/p>\n
We have some very distinguished members in this brotherhood. Members of the Board of Trustees, Lawyers, doctors, military leaders, Mayors, company presidents, and college chancellors. However, when we gather each year, this stature disappears. In other words, we bring them down to our level. Isn\u2019t that right, Hawkins?<\/p>\n
We cannot know for certain how long we have here.\u00a0 We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way.\u00a0 What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and with love, and with joy.
We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves.<\/p>\n
Allistair Begg once said, \u201cIf you have one true friend in the world, you are very rich\u201d. By that standard, Huffy was a very wealthy man. I am not exaggerating when I tell you I can name 50 men who would go to war for Huffy!<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n