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.
