In Memory of Thomas Hudson

My name is Rick Pomeroy and I am setting up this Go fund me page in the name of Thomas (Wally) Hudson. All monies will be disbursed to his daughters Taylor and Julieane to help pay for their father's burial and expenses.

As you have probably heard, Wally passed suddenly on Monday, May 1st, 2023. This has been a shock to all of us that were part of Wally's journey. Wally has 2 daughters, Taylor and Julieane who will need help in the coming months with expenses. His daughters and sisters meant the world to him and if there was something that his friends could do for him it would be to make sure that his daughters were going to be ok. So this is an effort for any of his friends that can give any amount that they can to ensure that Taylor and Julieane are going to be able to give their father the proper burial and to help them with expenses along the way.

I met Wally in 1973, I think he was 11-12 and I was 13. It was in Columbus Ohio around the Purdue and Agler area of town. I was doing some odd jobs in a local pizza shop trying to make a few bucks. Just so happened to be that there was a foosball table in the pizza shop... I think it was a Deutschmeister table. It was a local hangout with a table and a pinball machine. This little kid would always come by and want to play foosball, it was Wally. He and I played until we ran out of money. We would also challenge many to money matches...imagine that. Once we ran out of money we would go try and find empty pop bottles to turn into cash at the local grocery store so we could go back and play more foosball. Wally was no different at 12 than he was at 60 when it came to never meeting a stranger, he was always full of energy and he had a genuine sense of love for people. He was one of a kind. We became great friends and after about a year at the pizza shop we discovered other foosball games rooms like Big City and the Wizards. Big City Game Room is where we usually hung out and it was owned by the Rizek family who meant so much to the game in Columbus. This is where we met so many of our foosball brothers and family that still today we are very close to. I would name them all but it is a very long list. Wally and I played in our first big tournament at the Carousel Inn in Columbus in 1975 or 1976??. We were among many young (14-17 year old)kids from Columbus that would begin to start playing out on the tour in 1976 with names like Beine, Reynolds, Garbuglio, Vennetti, Vaughan, Hebble, Goshorn, the Parker brothers, Kondas (RIP) and many others. We both ended up quitting the game around 1979 and Wally ended up moving to Florida around that time to be with his brother Steve. Wally worked and worked, he was a survivor, very proud of his accomplishments and would never want anyone to know that he may be struggling. He was close to Jesus, was incredibly optimistic and loved people. He always talked about his journeys. He documented his journeys and loved to talk to you about them and show you his plans. He ended up getting married and would have two daughters that meant the world to him .... he was very close to both of them and would always want to tell you how successful they were. No doubt that he discovered what love was all about when he had those two beautiful girls, Taylor and Julieane. He would come back to Columbus once or twice every 5 years and visit. He would always want to have some sort of party usually around foosball and everyone from the 1970's would show up. The latest was a couple of years ago here in Columbus and we had about 70 people show up for a little tournament. After that, he went back to Florida and started playing foosball again in the Tampa area. He was rejuvenated again, full of energy and loved how the Florida Foosball group accepted him. The Florida foosball family was very important to him and his well-being. He would talk to me about playing 2-3 nights per week and when he won he would send me a note. He was so proud of his last couple of wins with Tom Yore and Mike Campagna. This last weekend with him at the Master's Championships in Clearwater was very special. He was able to play with his daughter in an event, and he and I played together in Sr Doubles... first time we had played together since 1977, he was also able to do what he loved to do most, talk with every one of his friends because he knew no strangers. He would hug, laugh, smile, joke, cry, compete, strategize and have fun. I had breakfast with him Sunday morning the day before he passed and he told me this was the best weekend in the last 40 years, he was full of love and joy. He was so looking forward to the next 5 years for his daughters, his journey and his foosball game. He was a special friend who we will all miss dearly. Love you brother! RIP Wally.

If you are financially capable of giving whatever amount you can I will promise that it will get to his two daughters who will be very appreciative of the support. I know this support will help them with the burial of Wally and their expenses. Thank you for your consideration.

Rick