Chugiak football stadium named after former teacher and coach
Photo Credit: Photo credit to ASD Communications
Tom Huffer with his family, area legislators, Anchorage School Board President John Steiner and other supporters at Monday’s board meeting.
May 5, 2010 • ASD Communications
Filed under Community, Top Stories
The Anchorage School Board approved a request to name the football stadium at Chugiak High School the Tom Huffer, Sr. Football Stadium. The requested name change was supported by Chugiak and Eagle River legislators, school staff, community members and Eklutna, Inc.
Superintendent Carol Comeau said generations of young people have benefitted from the extraordinary commitment of Tom Huffer, Sr. who served as a teacher, advisor, mentor and coach. He was the first football coach of Chugiak when it opened in 1969 and later went on to coach two state championship teams. In 2006, Huffer was honored with an Alaska School Activities Association Gold Lifetime pass. In the school board memo recognizing him, it read: He believed it wasn’t good enough to simply put on a uniform. To him, what mattered most was that each student did his or her best. Team reputations are often characterized by wins and losses. However, not once in all his years as coach, did anyone hear him tell his players that they needed to win. Instead he was frequently heard telling his players, whether it was school or family matters, that they needed to do their best and do the right thing.
Known as Mr. Football in the community, Huffer was the primary leader in garnering legislative and community funding for the artificial field turf and other amenities at the Chugiak High School stadium in the past few years.
A formal field dedication ceremony will be held at a later date to be determined by Chugiak and the Huffer family.
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