Joseph R. Huddleston ’59

Joe, a distinguished jurist, died July 11, 2011, in Hilton Head, S.C., eight weeks after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer.

Kentucky-born, Joe came to Princeton from Bowling Green High School, where he was president of his class. At Princeton, Joe was chairman of the Freshman Council; a member of the Undergraduate Council, the honor committee, the Keycept Program, and Whig-Clio; and chairman of the Campus Fund Drive. A history major, he dined at Cap and Gown. It was at Princeton that he courted Heidi Wood; they married in September 1959.

Joe received a law degree from the University of Virginia and returned to Bowling Green, where he practiced law — first with his father, then with his two brothers, among the 15 Huddlestons who were Kentucky lawyers.

In 1987 his judicial career started when he was appointed to the Warren Circuit Court. In 1991 he was elected chief judge, named Kentucky’s Outstanding Trial Judge, and appointed to the Court of Appeals. While sitting, he taught American law in Russia at the Russian Legal Academy and earned a master of laws degree from UVA. He retired in 2007, and he and Heidi spent happy hours sailing their boat,Tantalus.

Joe is survived by Heidi, three daughters, and three grandchildren. We have sent 
condolences.