I had a need to do a quick sketch of one of my great friend’s, Rick Hubbard. Rick was more than my friend he was also my boss. He was the Athletic Director at William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens and I was his assistant. One of Rick’s many accolades is that he was named Athletic Director of the Year in Palm Beach County a few years ago.

Of all the people I’ve known, Rick falls into a very special class of individual. He was a true leader who let his actions speak for him. He was a man of great humility and strength of character. He always placed others before himself. If accolades were to be given out he would make sure his coaches and athletes received the awards. He never tried to stand in the limelight even if he deserved to be there. Rick was content in all situations.

Since I’ve have worked for Rick (from the fall of 2004 to December 2008), I never saw him angry or crossed. He always took the higher ground where many would take advantage of his easy and soft spoken ways. He believed in his people even when they didn’t live up to their responsibilities. My greatest concern and motivation in working for Rick was not to let him down. He was a mentor and a big brother. He never let me down.

Rick had this wonderful West Virginia drawl. He had a slow and lyrical release of words and phrases that went down like a smooth drink. He was never caustic or harsh. He was a wonderful story teller holding your attention as his story would wrap around you as he arrived at the meaning of his story, usually addressing a problem that you were facing either personally or on the job. His quiet strength was not understood by many.

The only way to truly see Rick’s greatness as a human being would require you as an individual to stop promoting yourself and flaunting yourself in front of others and to stop, for one moment and see everyone as Rick did with great love, compassion and respect for his fellow man. Everyone seemed to be more important to Rick than his own well being and I believe in the end this attribute to his passing.

A few days after his death a memorial service was held in his honor in our school’s auditorium. If you want to know the measure of a man’s life, this night clearly showed his impact. In an auditorium that holds over 2500 people, it was packed to standing room only capacity. People whose lives were touched by Rick came from all over even as far as West Virginia. We were all in awe of how many people this quiet man from West Virginia had entered our lives and left his mark in our hearts. I still feel his loss daily and I shall never be the same.

When I think of Rick’s life I can not help but think of the Beatitudes of Christ.
He truly lived his life this way and I know he is blessed.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.