Sadly, Clinton athletics’ biggest supporter over the last 60-70 years passed away Saturday in Decatur at age 86.

For years, if one were to attend a Clinton High School sporting event, there’s a good chance Paul Huffman was there.

Paul never had a child or grandchild on the team. Many nights were cold and rainy and Paul often had no mode of transportation. But there he was, every night in row one, cheering on his beloved Maroons.

And in basketball season, after Paul would cheer on the Maroons win or lose, he would sweep the floors.

He spent years as a custodian for the school. He called that job “a highlight” of his life.

Before the game, Paul would be seen standing at attention, proudly singing the Star Spangled Banner.

He was indeed Clinton’s number one fan. No one was prouder of the town he loved, and no one was loved more than Paul.

“You just can’t say anything bad about Paul,” neighbor Vera Bright said in a 2009 interview with the Clinton Journal.

“He made sure that if you were his firend, you were his true friend. You can’t find anyone who would say anything bad about Paul.”

If someone was meeting Paul for the very first time, they would feel like they were talking to a longtime friend.

For the complete article see the 02-26-2010 issue.

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