The Key West Citizen

The Tape
Measure

By Joe Illsley

Plaudits To Mary

High school athletes from arch rival Fort Lauderdale have, in the past few seasons, given our Conchs an exceedingly rough time.

Partial revenge was gained back on the night of Dec. 13 when our Key West High School basketball five whipped the Flying L's on the court to the tune of 56 to 38, but plenty of scores remain to be settled.

A few months back, much against their will, the L's were hospitable toward the Conchs.

They 'gave' us pretty little Mary Huddle.

Mary, arriving here in April, has wasted little time in becoming an asset to her school and her new community.

All too often, sports fans, in particular, fail to recognize that talented individuals must possess many outstanding characteristics in order to advance to the status of a top performer in any field.

Pretty Mary has all of these fine qualities—and she's using them.

She added much to the recently concluded Conch football season and has made many local appearances, thereby brightening numerous functions in behalf of the community.

We think she's a wonderful sport.

A successful baton twirler must, to begin with, have patience, poise, grace, fine coordination, good balance, speed, rhythm, a good disposition, health and be ambidextrous.

Mary, at the tender age of nine, possessed all of these, and more.

She wanted to be someone, to accomplish something.

She's making progress—in both directions.

Our pretty baton twirler was born in Pensacola but moved to Miami shortly after her second birthday. Believe it or not, she was an 'adopted Conch' in '49 and '50. The Huddle family then moved to Fort Lauderdale and the determined youngster got her first taste of baton twirling.

It was tedious and slow at first. She was in a class with many other young hopefuls but later sought out a private tutor. Basic twirls, horizontal and front spins were mastered only after long hours of practice.

Under the watchful eye of her instructor, she progressed through marching routines, 'Eagle Spreads', figure of eight twirls, swings and aerials.

She advanced rapidly and was soon assisting her instructor with the teaching of others.

Mary's biggest thrill, to date, came when, as a member of a six-girl group from Fort Lauderdale, she performed in the most recent Florida Governor's Inauguration Parade in the state capital.

She's won numerous trophies and has received considerable acclaim for a young lady who turned 15 this past October.

She's a member, in good standing, of the National Baton Twirlers Association and hopes to soon become an authorized teacher. Under this plan, she'll be able to hold classes for groups and various naturally talented individuals.

Florida, out of the nation's 346 authenticated teachers, presently sports but seven accredited instructors. Mary is aiming to become number eight in the very near future.

She's now a popular sophomore at our new high school. Her immediate goal is graduation and then a degree at Florida State University. Rightfully, she believes her skill 'with the sticks' will help pave the way.

"Huddle" is a fine name for a champ baton twirler on the football field.

That 'moniker' shouldn't damage her cause.

Mary's 5-4½, has long brown hair and hazel eyes.
She lives with
her folks, John and Florence Huddle, at 1008 White St.

Dad is an automobile salesman. Mom, striving to assist her charming daughter, advises us that the road to success is long and sometimes tedious, but nevertheless, rewarding.

One of her charming daughter's uniforms generally sets her back some 70 'iron men' and then some 70 hours of needle manipulating is necessary before it passes the critical tests.

That's the story of Miss Mary Huddle, our champ baton tosser who's added so much to Key West.

We think this delivery is long overdue.