Elmo Hudgens

Owner/Coach

Issaquah/Seattle Cavaliers (1955-1982)

Coach

Lake City Associated Boys Club (1945-1949), Roosevelt Lions (1953)

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Tackle (1929-1938)

U-District (1929), Green Lake Athletic Club (1932), Everstate Athletic Club (1933), Uptown Athletic Club (1934), New York Bakery (1936), The Doghouse Bowwows (1937), Knights of Columbus "KCs" (1938)

Teammates with Don Sprinkle on the 1937 Ranch Mustangs, began his "semi pro" career as a 17-year old tackle with the U-District Collegians in the Community Football League of Seattle in 1929.

From 1929 to 1938 Elmo was a starting tackle in the Seattle community leagues for seven different teams winning a league title with U-District (1929). The Doghouse Bowwows became the Casey's in 1938 (sponsored by the Knights of Columbus).  In 1936, he married Alma Walt and together they formed a revered husband-wife team on the Northwest football scene through the 1980's.

Elmo Hudgens was the type of man that was totally involved in sports.  Following World War II, his guidance turned coaching the Lake City Boys Club, and Roosevelt Lions Club teams into the Seattle Cavaliers after a blending with the Issaquah Cavaliers in 1955.  For 35 consecutive years the Cavaliers played football, almost solely because of Elmo Hudgens.  The mainstay of their existence was Elmo's ability to develop games against military service teams and small colleges.  He developed a respect from the Northwest football community that was very deep.

Elmo was the kind of man who went out of his way to help those who were less fortunate than himself.  He believed in the building of character and was always making an effort to stretch a persons belief in himself.  His motto was, "A Christian, A Cavalier, A Teacher."  His son Harley joined the team in 1959 as a halfback and went on to a career as a photographer and Seattle Times contributor.

In 1971, he helped form the Northwest International Football Alliance.  From 1971 to 1980, the Cavaliers compiled a 74-28-2 record claiming the league title in 1972 under Elmo's leadership.  Elmo Hudgens passed away in 1982, and the Northwest Football Alliance (NFA) trophy was dedicated to his memory.

Elmo coached the Roosevelt Lions Club, mostly high-school aged amateurs in 1953, previous to that, he coached Lake City Associated Boys Club (1945-1948) to a co-championship in 1948 with Queen Anne, coached by Hall of Famer Don Sprinkle.  Taught jiu jitsu, judo and savatte to military and police personnel under Defense Artists of America emblem during the early 1950's.  The Roosevelt Lions Club would scrap the amatuer team in favor of a more popular little league team of 12-13 year olds in 1954.

Hudgens was a deputy sheriff from 1938 - 1950.  In a humorous event in May of 1945, an on-duty Elmo raced home with sirens blaring to find the babysitter watching his 5-year old handcuffed to a chair.  His wife made the call when they couldn't find the key to free the teenager.  A second event in his law enforcement career involved a roof top prowling monkey that hopped through an open window of his police prowler.  He was forced to take the monkey to his home when the sheriff would not allow the animal in the station.  On Nov 1, 1955, Elmo replaced Ed Seil as Issaquah Town Marshal.