Sports Scene
Mrs. Huggins had an impact on my life
Ross Wood Sports Editor

If you are fortunate in your life, you get to meet and know some extraordinary people. Or at least if you open your eyes then you have that luxury.

Growing up in Grove Hill, when you are too young to drive, one of the places you could go was the public library.

There was, and still is, an infinate number of books to capture your imagination.

It always helps, though, to have someone to help steer a reader into the right direction.

For more years that I can count that person was Mildred Huggins.

Mrs. Huggins was always ready to offer a new read to a young sports fan. In fact there was this one book, "Little League Champions" that she probably wished she had never told me about. The reason, I think I may have checked it out over 100 times.

She had such wonderful knowledge of everything in the library, or so it seemed. I still think she did.

In the days before the Internet and the quick and easy way of looking up information for various topics, you had to use the card catalog. Not always the easiest thing for someone to do.

But Mrs. Mildred would always be right there, with that wonderful southern voice, making sure you were able to find what you needed, but also making sure you learned as you went.

I spent many summer days in that building with her. Some of my favorite books were introduced by her.

In the past several years she has been away from the library so I did not get to see her as much, but every time I drive past the library I am reminded of how much she taught me. I am sure there are untold others who will say the same thing.

Her son Alfred was in the office just a week or so ago and I had a chance to ask how she was doing. You could tell by the answer that she wasn't doing too well.

I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing last week. In the hectic days of putting the paper out I never really got the chance to tell her daughters how sorry I was or how much I would miss her.

I would like to think she has an imprint on me, even now in my adult years.

The next book I read I will think of what she taught me and I think that is how she would want to be remembered.

That's all folks.......

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