H.T. Waller

H.T. Waller

Herschel Tucker Waller, Jr., 76, of Panama City, FL, died on November 29, 2021 after a brief illness. Born on January 12, 1945, he grew up in Vernon, FL and graduated from Vernon High School. He then attended the Florida State University on a football scholarship, graduating in 1968. He lettered multiple years and was extremely proud to have played on FSU’s first team to defeat the University of Florida in 1967.

After college, H.T. worked as a teacher and a high school football coach before launching a successful business career. He also played slow-pitch softball from 1965 through 1980 for some of the nation’s top teams (most notably Joe’s Pizza of Milton, FL and Howards Furniture of Denver, NC), including two ASA national title teams and three runners-up. In eight American Softball Association (ASA) national championships, Waller hit 74 homers and batted over .600. He had the distinction of hitting more than 2,000 home runs in his career and was inducted into the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in 1997.

He was also an avid outdoorsman and careful steward of his family farm, passing his love for hunting and fishing on to his daughters and then to his grandchildren. Some of their fondest memories involve time spent with their Pa on the water or on the farm.

He is survived by his former wife, Paula Lovett Waller, and their children Ashley Waller of Panama City, FL; India Witte, husband David and his two beloved grandchildren Ingalls and Tucker Witte of Tampa, FL; sister Marlene Brock, husband Kelly and brother Larry Waller of Chipley, FL, as well as extended family. He is predeceased by his parents Donie and Herschel Tucker Waller, Sr., and his brother John Waller.


CAREER STATS

Year   	ABs	Hits	HRs	Avg.	Team 
1966	 		 30		Bondy's Ramblers
1967	 		128	.586	Bondy's Ramblers (53 in 29 games), News-Herald (50) and Vernon's (25)
1968			209	.647	Jo's Pizza House (102 games) 104-18	264-408 -1.95
1969  			213	.641	Jo's Pizza House (117 games) 96-22	300-468	-2.20
1970  	489	341	195	.697	Jo's Pizza House (107 games) 89-19	-2.51
1971  	529	370	225	.699	Jo's Pizza House (102 in 57 games) & Angelo's Steak Pit (123 in 60 games) -2.35
1972  	297	195	136	.657	Indian Lakes Pile Drivers (90 HR) & Angelo's Steak Pit (46 HR) -2.18
1973  	384	263	176	.685	Howard's Furniture (ASA Regional MVP) - 2.18
1974  	329	203	135	.617	Howard's Furniture -2.44
1975			104	.625	Ken Sanders Ford & Warren Motors *
1976   	299	172	 87	.575	Howard's Furniture - 3.44
1977	526	337	212	.641	Howard's Furniture (387 RBI) - 103 games  - 2.48
1978	335	201	113	.600	Howard's Furniture -2.96
1979	222	110	 49	.495	Howard's Furniture -4.53
1980	 		 11	.545	Howard's/Western Steer (Retired from tournament play in early 1980, played locally)
1981	 		 		Local Leagues
Total	3401	2187	2005	.643	INCOMPLETE - (Estimated to have 2500 HR, missing local stuff from 1966-67 and 79-81)

* Ruled ineligible for Howard’s due to ASA residency rule, just played tournaments with both Ken Sanders and Warren’s.

NOTE – newspaper articles said Waller hit 842 HR in the 1968-1971 time frame.

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