Nimitz dedication memorializes a teammate and friend
Written by Phil Cerroni
By Jess Paniszczyn
On a gloomy January day in 2008, three teenage friends drove down a lonely stretch of wet road. In a few panicked moments, the driver lost control, the car struck a telephone pole and a precious life was lost.
Happily, the ending of Jerry Frank Hux II’s life, aka ‘Bubba,’ does in no way define it. A vivacious 17 year old junior at Nimitz High School, Jerry loved his friends, his family and sports.
A Nimitz baseball player from 2006-2008, Jerry wore number 00 while playing center field and catcher. Before the Nimitz and Irving High School baseball game began on March 12, Jerry’s family, friends and teammates were joined by the evening’s players and fans in honoring his memory. Members of the Nimitz varsity team wore 00 on shirts under their jerseys and 00 on their helmets. Coach Robert Mendoza presented Jerry’s parents with a crystal baseball. And a permanent five foot baseball memorial was dedicated in left field to Jerry’s memory.
“The boys know what it is. It is very humbling for them to see that and to remember that there is more to life than just baseball. You really should be careful," said Shannon Buffington, a member of Nimitz Baseball Booster Club.
“You should always remember a teammate when something like that happens, no matter when you play. Most of the boys who play baseball now don’t know who Jerry was, because they never played baseball with him. But he is still a teammate.
“The Hux family was very happy. It was the first time they had been back to the stadium since Jerry passed away. There were probably 400 people there last night. Of those, 200 were Jerry’s family and friends.
