This week's Arkansan of the Week is a trophy-winning softball player. That doesn't sound too unusual--until you realize he made his first pitch more than half a century ago.
Seventy-five-year-old Jimmy Hughes takes the term “active senior” to a whole new level. Come summertime, Jimmy spends most weekends on the softball field, pitching for a 75-and-older traveling team.
(Jimmy Hughes) “Some of those 75-year-olds get after it pretty good.”
And Jimmy's team got after it last summer, winning a national championship in Georgia. Jimmy was named Most Valuable Player.
(Hughes) “Well, I just happened to have good tournament for a change. Basically making a play or two at pitching, stopping a few line drives, getting a few base hits at the right time.”
Jimmy has played softball every summer for 50 years. His wife, Ruthie, made a quilt out of his old jerseys--a reminder of a lifelong passion.
(Hughes) “It has good memories. I can look back at these that I've played with over the years, and I can think back to the good times that we've had.”
And he's still having a good time--and a pain-free time. He'll play somewhere between 50 and 60 games this year.
By the time they reach their mid-70s, some of Jimmy's teammates and competitors are wearing face masks, shin guards, and getting pinch runners on base--but not Jimmy.
(Hughes) “I've talked to people who say it's amazing that we can still go at 75, but I don't think it's all that much.”
What he does think is that he'll keep playing.
(Hughes) “Whichever comes first--my knees give out, or Ruthie gets tired of following me across the country--then I'll keep playing.”
Jimmy's team plays its first tournament in a couple of weeks.
If you'd like to nominate someone to be the Arkansan of the Week, send an e-mail to scottinman@katv.com.
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