Robert Danny Rutledge (Danny Boy) passed away peacefully in Stockton, Ala. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. He enjoyed 74 years of life.
He was born in Talladega, Ala. June 1, 1941. A life celebration was held in his honor on the following Saturday.
Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Robert (Cotton) and Lydia Rutledge; his first wife, Lonie Rutledge; granddaughter, Callie Wright; grandson, Sean Herrington.
He is survived by his wife, Luann Rutledge; his daughters, Dee Dee Dye, Leslie Wright, Love Drumwright; his son, Robert Rutledge Jr.; his sister, Pam Ausley; his brothers, Roderick Rutledge and Kimbo Rutledge; his six grandchildren; and a multitude of lifelong friends and fans.
Danny graduated from the Marion Military Institute in Marion Ala. at the age of 16. Then he proceeded on to the United States Air Force where they sent him to Yale University to study Chinese for the Central Intelligence Agency.
Danny was a gifted writer and a beloved coach. He spent his adult life covering local sports. He freelanced many sports articles in nationally known magazines.
His career spans from the Tampa Tribune, Atlanta Constitution, Troy Messenger, Talladega Daily Home, Gulf Coast Newspapers until he retired 40 years later. Dan was one of the best sportswriters in the state of Alabama. He did it the right way, covering as many games in person as possible, taking his own photos and getting the story in under the wire for the paper the next day.
He received numerous accolades and awards for his writing — Best Writer, Best Feature Story, Best Column and many more.
Danny’s coaching career began in the 1960s when he coached his brother, Kimbo Rutledge, in the Talladega Recreation League. Danny broke the glass ceiling for girls softball by making it a legitimate sport in Baldwin and Mobile counties.
When he coached his daughter, Love Rutledge Drumwright in the 1980s, he led girls softball 10 and under (Baldwin Eye Clinic) to win the Alabama State Championship. He also coached the Satsuma Rebels (16 and under) to a National Championship for girls softball in 1994. The next six years his teams placed in the top five with two second-place wins nationally between 1988 and 1994.
Dan was an avid Alabama football fan, and dedicated his life to the love of all sports as a writer and a coach.
Dan’s writing and spiritual journey lasted all the days of his life, which he approached with a child’s curiosity and a champion’s heart.
The family request in lieu of flowers, please donate to the North Baldwin Animal Shelter or to Callie’s Kids of Talladega.
