William Hudson

William "Bill" Alex Hudson, 82, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at Spartanburg Medical Center. Born July 9, 1935, in Hartsville, SC, he was the son of the late Elijah Lee Hudson and Daisy Parnell Hudson. A 1953 graduate of North Charleston High School, Bill was a gifted athlete. He played football, basketball, and track in high school and was selected to play in the South Carolina Shrine Bowl as well as the North-South All Star game. The youngest of five boys, he followed in the footsteps of his older brothers and attended Clemson University on an athletic scholarship for football. While in college, he played in the 1957 Orange Bowl and was selected to play in the National East-West All Star game and the North-South All Star game. He was also a member of the South Carolina and Clemson Athletic Halls of Fame. Bill was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1957 in the second round. Instead of playing there, he chose to double his salary and play for the Canadian Football League. During his off-season, he continued to work on his education and graduated from Clemson University with an Education Degree in 1959. While in Canada, he played for the Montreal Allouettes for three years. In 1961, he played for the San Diego Chargers where he was a member of the "Fearsome Foursome Defensive Line". He was selected as team captain along with Jack Kemp from 1961-1963 and was a member of the 1961 Pro Bowl team. Bill finished his pro-football career in 1964 with the Boston Patriots. He worked as a professional scout for Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders for 17 years. In 1970, he started Puritan Industrial Maintenance which later would become Diversco, Inc. The company was a leader in the industrial cleaning, security and staffing business which grew to employ over 5400 employees throughout 16 states. Bill's community accomplishments include: co-founder of the Spartanburg County Touchdown Club, elected "Entrepreneur of the Year" for the State of South Carolina, and over the years he helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for numerous charities including: YMCA, Boy Scouts, Spartanburg Regional, Clemson University and established the Hudson Family Clemson Football Position Endowment Scholarship. Bill and Lillian were members of St. Paul United Methodist Church for over 40 years. He was also a member of the Primetime Sunday School Class and the Men's Club. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Lillian H. Hudson, children: William "Alex" Hudson, II (Sherry), Beth Ann Hudson, Ginny Hudson Hammond (Mark); six grandchildren that he truly enjoyed and adored: Lanie Ann Hudson, William Alex Hudson, III, Alexa Sherry Hudson, John Matthew Hammond, Ross Hudson Hammond, and Lillian Grace Hammond; brothers, Earl and Bob Hudson; sister-in-law, Trish Ratliff; special nephews, Johnny and Clay Ratliff; special family friends, Elizabeth and Nathan Grizzard and their children, Tyler and Parker; and his dearly loved pugs, Susu and Biscuit. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Rufus and JC Hudson. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 16, 2017, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, by The Rev. John L. Warren, Jr. The family will receive friends following the service in Poston Hall at the church. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hudson Family Scholarship at Clemson University, PO Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633-1889 or St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1320 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307. Bill will be dearly missed by his friends and the employees of the Eastside Hardees, Bojangles, Taco Bell, and Waffle House. The family would like to thank the Heart Center 5th floor nurses at Spartanburg Medical Center for the excellent care he received. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of William Alex Hudson please visit our Sympathy Store.