Harrisonburg Turks

Member of the Valley Baseball League and NACSB.

  • 1955 VBL Champions
  • 1958 VBL Champions
  • 1959 VBL Champions
  • 1962 VBL Champions
  • 1964 VBL Champions
  • 1969 VBL Champions
  • 1970 VBL Champions
  • 1971 VBL Champions
  • 1977 VBL Champions
  • 1991 VBL Champions
  • 2000 VBL Champions
  • 2012 VBL Champions
  • 2023 VBL Champions

Turks Family Member Honored as a Firefighter Hero

09/05/2009 – Daily News Record

Rockingham County firefighter David Huddle (center) receives an award Friday for his life-saving efforts at a house fire in May. Huddle, son of Rockingham County Assistant Fire Marshal John Huddle (left), was nominated for the award by Jim Werner (right), a retired Harrisonburg firefighter. Photo by Jeremy Hunt

Former Turks Bat Boy and Equipment Manager, David Huddle, Honored for Saving Life.

Turks Tidbits Harrisonburg, VA For everyone that knows the John Huddle Family you know what hard working, dedicated, and humble people they are. You also know how important they are to the Harrisonburg Turks, and to the Wease Family. John and Sharon have worked the grill and fed Turks fans for years their famous Huddle Burgers. Their son, David, has been a very special part of our family since he and Matt were growing up together and they spent hours on the baseball field (little league, HHS, and the Turks Veterans Memorial Stadium). He worked as one of the Turks bat boys and then as the equipment manager since he was about 10 years old. He was a great and helpful friend to a lot of Turks players and coaches during those years. David has left baseball behind and moved on to going to college and working full time for the Rockingham County Fire Dept and pursuing a career in firefighting. We have always loved David and been proud of him but even more so this summer when we heard of his latest daring adventure. He’s been honored for his heroism in saving a man’s life in a fire and I knew all of you would want to hear about it. Please read the article below from the Daily News Record on September 5, 2009.

Life-Saving Effort Earns Recognition

19-Year-Old Firefighter Says ‘Just Doing My Job’

By Jeremy Hunt Daily News Record

BRIDGEWATER – David Huddle doesn’t see what the big deal is.

The 19-year-old responded to a fire not far from his home on May 21.

That night, Huddle, a volunteer and career firefighter, pulled his neighbor from the burning house, likely saving the man’s life.

He says he was just doing his job, but others don’t quite see it that way.

News of his efforts reached Jim Werner, a retired Harrisonburg firefighter who now lives in Roanoke.

Werner nominated Huddle for a life-saving award from Woodmen of the World, and presented it to him Friday.

“These guys ought to be recognized for what they do,” Werner said. “I think these guys need a pat on the back.”

Huddle was at home when emergency crews were dispatched to 861 Madison St. in Harrisonburg.

So, he hopped in his truck and was first on the scene of the house fire, where flames were coming out the front window.

Inside, he saw a man lying on the floor.

Huddle grabbed the man by his feet and pulled him 8 or 10 feet out of the house. The man was taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center, where he was treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

“I don’t feel it’s quite as big a deal as everyone’s made it out to be,” Huddle said.

His father, Rockingham County assistant Fire Marshal John Huddle, disagrees.

“I told him that night I’ve been in fire service for 30 years, and I’ve never saved a life like that,” the elder Huddle said. “He doesn’t see it as a big deal, but it is.”

Contact Jeremy Hunt at 574-6273 or jhunt@dnronline.com