Quyis Dudley

 By “Nunnie” Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor

      At a recent worship experience at Mt. Hermon AME, Fort Lauderdale, I was captivated by a young man with whom I was unfamiliar. What captured my attention was this young man’s aura, his physical presence and demeanor. As a former football coach, I find myself constantly profiling those that I perceive as being or having been an athlete in the past. I even mentally assess their physical attributes such as height, weight, strength and speed while imagining the sport and/or position he or she played. So it was on this fortuitous Sunday at Mt. Hermon AME Fort Lauderdale where I observed this young with a body like Terry Crews of AGT/Everybody Loves Raymond fame reading scripture and leading the youth choir as a soloist. I thought to myself what an amazing, admirable young man. Because our youth were leading the service that Sunday, I had been politely asked to change my seating to accommodate the youth on program. Curiosity got the best of me so when he came down from the choir stand and sat across from me, I beckoned him over to sit next to me. I could see that he was a little taken aback, but he obediently acquiesced. Having to get right to point because we were in the middle of service, I introduced myself as a steward, former educator and football coach presently serving as the sports editor of the Westside Gazette. I intimated how much I admired his participation  as a youth and leader in Church School activities, then queried him about his  athletic prowess. His name is Quyis Dudley, a student-athlete at Dillard High School and that he did indeed play football.

I told him that I would love to do a feature story about him, that I knew his coach very well and that I would contact them both later. Just  my initial impression and encounter suggested to me that young people like him doing the right thing, setting positive examples for those who might choose to emulate him, and demonstrating his Christian values, deserve our support and recognition.

In a recent Bible study session about evangelism, I mentioned my encounter with Quyis to Mt. Hermon Senior Pastor, Rev. Henry E. Green III, who immediately responded with tremendous praise about Quyis and his consistent participation in our church’s YPD.

I’m looking forward to interviewing Quyis in the immediate future and learning more about him personally and influencers that have shaped his life up to presence.