Harold "buddy" Hudson Obituary

Harold "buddy" Hudson attended Purcell High School in Purcell, OK. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Harold "buddy" Hudson.

Graduation Year	Class of 1956
Date of Passing	May 14, 2013
About	My older brother & my idol Harold "Buddy" Hudson attended Booker T Washington school from the 1st-11th grade. When schools were integrated his senior year, Buddy attended PHS where he was one of the first African Americans to play basketball for the Purcell High Dragons. He graduated from PHS in 1956 and played one year of basketball at Okla Baptist Univ. He then transferred to Okla Univ where he became the "first African American to play basketball for OU when he stepped on the court for the Sooner's season opener on Dec 3, 1958". What a historic joy that moment was, not only for Buddy, but to his teammates and coaches, his family and friends in Purcell, the university, and the state of Oklahoma. After graduating from OU in 1961 with a Bachelor in Social Studies Degree, Buddy taught history and was the head basketball coach at Dunjee High School in Choctaw, Okla for two years. Buddy served his country and was honorably discharged from the US Army Reserve in 1963. In 1964 he moved his family to Kansas City Missouri, where he spent three years as an assistant coach at Kansas City’s Central HS, winning one state championship in 1968. Buddy taught math and history for over 35 years, retiring from the Kansas City School District in 2000. Buddy was actively involved in many organizations. He especially enjoyed reading, going on Arkansas fishing boat trips with his buddies, taking early morning walks, and hanging out with friends at the Palestine Sr Citizens Center in Kansas City. Buddy loved returning to Purcell to visit family and friends, and attend Hudson Reunions. He also enjoyed attending OU basketball alumni reunion games. Buddy and wife Elaine Hudson were married for 53 years and they have two sons and one daughter.