University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Mourn Loss of Dr. Earl Hudson
June 29, 2017 | General
The Hudson family has played a key role in one of UT's most cherished athletic traditions
The Tennessee family is mourning the loss of Dr. Earl C. Hudson, who passed away Saturday in Knoxville at age 91.
Since 1994, Hudson and his wife, Martha, have owned and trained the famous line of blue tick coon hounds that serve as UT's living canine mascot, "Smokey."
Tennessee Spirit Coordinator Joy Postell-Gee oversees the UT students who serve as Smokey's handlers and has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Hudson family.
"I have been honored to know the Hudson family for the past 25 years, and I cherish my relationship with the family and especially with Mr. Earl," Postell-Gee said. "Mr. Earl's passion for the Vols was unrivaled, as evidenced by his many years of commitment to afford Tennessee fans the privilege to share his beloved canines."
The Hudsons also were owners/proprietors of Knoxville's Hudson Drug Store, where Dr. Hudson served as the pharmacist.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 5-7 p.m. ET at Stevens Mortuary. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 7 p.m. ET.
I n lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the General Fund of Smithwood Baptist Church, 4914 Jacksboro Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918. Military honors will be performed at Dr. Hudson's private graveside service by the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard, as he was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
The UT Pep Club held a contest in 1953 to select a coon hound, a native breed of the state, as the school's live mascot. Announcements of the contest in local newspapers read, "This can't be an ordinary hound. He must be a 'Houn' Dog' in the best sense of the word."
The late Rev. Bill Brooks entered his prize-winning blue tick coon hound, "Brooks' Blue Smokey," in the contest. At halftime of the Mississippi State game that season, the dogs were lined up on the old cheerleaders' ramp at Shields-Watkins Field. Each dog was introduced over the loudspeaker, and the student body cheered for their favorite, with "Blue Smokey" being the last hound introduced. When his name was called, he barked. The students cheered, and Smokey threw his head back and barked again. This kept going until the stadium was in an uproar and UT had found its mascot.
Rev. Brooks supplied UT with the line of canines until his death in 1986 when his wife, Mildred, took over the caretaking role. She did so until 1994, when her brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Martha Hudson of Knoxville, took over responsibility for Smokey VII and eventually Smokey VIII, Smokey IX and now Smokey X carrying on the proud banner of the Smokey lineage.
The Hudson's son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Cindy Hudson, will continue the family tradition of providing the University of Tennessee with its living mascot for future generations of Big Orange fans to enjoy.
