Ronald Wade "Ron" Hudspeth

God bless you Ron.

As thousands of Atlantans will remember, over friendships, sports stories or the best drink/meal @ the newest hip bar/restaurant, Ron was a friend. A friend, a notifyer,
an advisor, a promoter, a partier!, a pal. At one time, ATL wasn't quite so huge...and he & Lewis Grizzard helped mesh much of our city & its 'out & about' citizens. There certainly were lotsa' great, fun times. Ron led & participated in many ways to ensure a growing city maintained enough 'small town' to foster & boost local businesses & friendships.
Lifelong friendships.
Much appreciation for Ron's heart, creativity, sports love, journalism smarts & for caring about us!
Upward & onward, dear Ron.
Sheri

I worked at the AJC in the advertising department from 1979 to 1982...It was a great era with both Lewis Grizzard and Ron hudspeth walking the halls and having coffee in the " food section "cafeteria! What an era and a privilege for me to be at the AJC during that time!

Ron and Lee Grizzard and Dick Willam´s at Muhlenbrink´s Saloon underground at 4:30 pm after working all day at AJC, was an intensely entertaining wave of comments, jokes, opinions, lots of drinks for them while I worked there - those guys were outrageous -

Steve Fuller, the owner, also owned Harrison´s on Peachtree - and all of us, from Muhlenbrink´s / especially after getting out of Georgia Tech - we definitely parked ourselves at Harrison´s.

Ron Hudspeth was a terrific guy to just be in the room with - and those people I mentioned - Wow what a Team...

Ron and I were married 40 years ago from the time of his passing, Valentine´s Day, 1985! Although our marriage was certainly not a lengthy one, he always held a special place in my heart. I will miss him but hold on to many great memories! May he rest in peace!

Ron Hudspeth. Lewis Grizzard, Harrison´s with Pete and Clarence Foster´s with Otha Jones. George McKerow and the original Longhorn Steakhouse. An occasional Ted Turner....back when Atlanta was fun. Rest in Peace, Ron and thank you for all the wonderful memories.

You were the best. I enjoyed knowing you. RIP Ron , I know you and Lewis are having a grand time

Ron was a good friend and I will miss him very much, as will many many other people. We would get together when ever we could and meet up at different places or talk on the telephone. He called up one day and said "I named one of my dogs after you." I was very flattered, to say the least ! Ron helped so many entertainers and musicians and I am one of them. Ron was a great man. He did a lot of good things in his life. I remember when he had a farm and he had big get togethers, he would always have tent for me and my band. We shared the same birthday even, I will miss Ron ! In later years he would invite me down to his home in Costa Rica, he would always say "you have to come down and set on the porch with these parrots and go in to the jungle with me" he really made it sound fun! I could talk for a long time about Ron and all the good he did, and never repeat myself. I will truly miss him! The world is a better place for having the footprints of Ron Hudspeth left upon it! Rest In Peace my brother and save me a place at the table. Your friend for always Hank Gallups

Ron will be missed. Great guy. Loved the Huspeth Report. Many great monthly updates and articles on restaurants and nightlife in Atlanta. Great article about my Old Vinings Inn restaurant back in the early 90´s . But the best memory was visiting Ron at his home in CR. So hospitable and a blast to spend time with. Good times. Say hello to Grizzard! RIP Ron.

I have fond memories of participating in a weekend road trip to Chicago for a Braves - Cubs series at Wrigley Field in 1990, which was put together by Ron and the Hudspeth Report. It was great fun hanging out with some of Ron´s regular running mates as well as fans of his column, like me. I also remember sitting with Ron at one of the games we attended and getting to know him a little better. He was fun loving, good man. My thoughts are with his family at this time. Rest In Peace

Awesome Awesome man, a true friend , I already miss him. Rest in peace my friend.

My condolences to the family. Ron had a contagious laugh and smile that always made for a welcoming atmosphere. I enjoyed visiting his beautiful home off Jotem Down Road and seeing him at the local eateries in Atlanta during the 70´s and 80´s. God Bless and my you rest in peace.

God Rest You, Ron - Always a character, and a very generous one at that. My wife Melanie Massell and I will never forget the opportunity to stay at your home in El Ocotal - you chose a beautiful place to spend your later years...

You were fun

Life has a way of reminding us how fleeting time can be. I met Ron years ago at Rio Bravo on Powers Ferry during happy hour, and from that moment, he became a big part of my life. I was lucky enough to share incredible experiences with him-spending time at his farm in Cumming, his home in Costa Rica, and attending countless restaurant and bar openings.

Through Ron, I found my way into writing while working at The Hudspeth Report and even started a small business renting his Costa Rica villa, which led to so many unexpected opportunities. He played a pivotal role in shaping my path, and though we lost touch over the years, the news of his passing was a true shock.

Ron was one of a kind-sharp, adventurous, and always full of life. His impact on those who knew him will never fade. Rest easy, my friend. You will be missed.

I met Ron in a bar where we had a conversation that led to him hiring me to write for the Hudspeth Report. That was my break into a writing career. Getting to work with him and hang out with him was an adventure. Years later he invited me and two of my friends to his place in Costa Rica to celebrate our 40th birthdays. There are far too many memories of Ron to write them here. He was always gracious, giving, full of great stories and just a lot of fun to be around. I am forever grateful for the chance he gave me. Rest well Ron.

I knew

A great writer and friend. You´ll be missed.

Ron was so good to us as an Atlanta band in the late 70's and early 80's. He frequently wrote about us and we became friends. He was a great journalist as well as a great guy in general. May he rest in peace.
Pat Coletta (Ben Dover & Tennessee Tucker Band)

As an Atlanta native, I am grateful for all of his words written and shared throughout the years. He shall live on through his writings for generations to come. May there be peace for all as this transition is traveled. RIP

Ron was so good to me.As one of his characters Brother Francis he helped make me a popular Asst. mascot for the Braves.He will surely be missed.Thanks for everything you did for Atlanta..

I worked for his friends Phil and Phillip Bonner who moved to Costa Rica, may he rest in

I was so sorry to hear the sad news of Ron's passing. He was a good friend to me early on with his positive support in his column at the AJC as well as his Hudspeth Report magazine. We stayed in touch for a long time after that. In a visit to Costa Rica, Ron picked Jolie Wilson and I up for an afternoon visit at his home as pictured here. He will be missed.

Sending condolences to his family and remembering our hometown, , Belle Glade, Florida.

Ron, I appreciate how you kept me informed and shared your insider perspective on what´s happening in Atlanta. Barkers Red Hots

I mmet him at the great Southeast music hall, when it was in Brookhaven
I was waiting for my brother who was late and he insisted on hanging with me until I got into the event. Great guy. So sorry that we've lost him.

What an Atlanta treasure he was...we'll never forget all the joy, laughter, and just good old common sense he shared with us. Rest well, Ron.

My mom and I had a paper route together in the 70s and 80s deliver the Atlanta Journal. When we would pick up our stack, the first thing I did while driving to start our route was to read Ron and Lewis. Always loved his writing style and with. RIP.

RIP

Just a bit of nostalgia... Ron´s very first announcement of his new venture in 1987.

Missing you terribly Ron, love cathy

Ron was truly sui generis and he lived the life he wanted to live. His column in the AJC Lifestyle Section was widely read...the items were never mean-spirited and were enjoyed by all. I was part-owner of Harrisons with Steve Fuller back in the early "80s and organized and led an expedition, BUCKHEAD TO BAJA that Ron joined. In February of 1987 our intrepid group of 16 flew to San Diego, spent the night at at the Glorietta Bay Inn and departed the next morning in 4 VW vans I had rented. Just a few hours later we were having one hell of a party at Hussong's Cantina in Ensenda...until the federales showed up!

Over the next fews days the group drove south on a thousand mile journey to the southern tip of Baja. Along the way, one of the VW vans broke down and we had to reallocate the group among the remaining 3 vehicles. We took a 40 mile detour down a washboard road to San Ignacio Lagoon, where several of us hired a guide and a small boat with an outboard motor and enjoyed frolicking with the grey whales. Once we reached Cabo San Lucas we enjoyed a few days of R&R in a first class hotel. Each of us eventually made our way back to Atlanta with several of us flying back on Manderson's new Learjet.

I am sharing a photo of the group en route...quite an assemblage of the great, near-great and wanna-be characters of the era (left to right): Dick Larson, Lewis Manderson, Steve Martin, Don Plunkett, myself in the black baseball cap and beard, Chance Evans, Jack Loersch, David Seering(kneeling), Ron Hudspeth, Roberto our translator, Murray Jones, Doug Mckendrick, Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Brian Rose, and Ole Krarup.

Sharing song: "Those were the days"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8l1Gw_7JfI

Peter Dames...THE EDGE, Big Sur, California

Postscript:
In early 2004 I shipped my Land Rover to Colon, Panama, and my wife Tarasa and I drove south to the Darien Gap then turned north and drove through every country Central America except El Salvador. When in Costa Rica, we stopped in El Ocotal and enjoyed time with Ron at his home and watched the Super Bowl with him. Later we took the car ferry to Baja, drove south to Cabo San Lucas and arrived at our home in Big Sur California after a leisurely 9,000 mile 9 week journey.

I am so sorry to hear this sad news. Ron was a love and my family stayed with him in CR and always enjoyed his company and humor. Known him since 1982 and he was a favorite of mine. Prayers for his family and god bless ! My thoughts and best wishes for his family going forward!

Ron was a big part of life in Atlanta in the `80s on. His column was always a must read. RIP, Ron.

As a native Atlantan of a younger vintage, Ron was the man and the legend. One always followed him to find out what was happening in our growing metropolis. He will be missed.

I ran Limelight and Ron came in all the time. He was a great guy and would allows publish in his column what celebrity came in and what they did. We will will miss you Ron! Dave

Ron was more than simply one of a kind... he loved to have fun and was a lot of fun himself... a great guy who lived, chronicled, and truly epitomized Atlanta during the 70s and 80s... even though he hated disco!

I sorely miss the bygone days when you could run into Ron all over town, anywhere (and almost everywhere) something was happening -- from the press box at an Atlanta Falcons game (where I once saw him show up with friends Harmon Wages and Debbie Norville, all three wearing full-length mink coats) to having drinks with friends like Lewis Grizzard at Harrison's (or, later, Creekside Cafe).

If you were ever out and about and saw Ron Hudspeth there, you knew you were in the right place at the right time.

i grew up with ron in belle glade , we were roommates in college for 2 years. visited with my family to costa rica years ago . Would love to be in communication with Joey - his sister - and perhaps his daughter. Is there a way to reach them thru this message? Ron was a rare individual who was always searching for his place in this world - he will always be in my thoughts and will always remembered by the generation that were are a part of. Rest in peace old friend .

Sorry to hear about my friend. Jake and I had a lot of Great Times with him.

Sure liked to see Ron and Lewis at my aunt's restaurant (Techwood Soda) and listen them. My step father also was employed by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Sorry for your loss. Ron was Mr. Peachtree in Atlanta. He was an outstanding personality. Loved by so many.

As a former Atlanta police officer, I had the pleasure of knowing Ron. He was a very down to earth man, he never met a stranger and gave people is undivided attention when speaking to them.

It was a fun trip during the old days. Forever a memory.

A few years younger than Ron, I greatly admired, then enjoyed the times when I was finally able to hang out and "learn" about life along Peachtree! He will be missed.

Loved reading Ron and Lewis´s columns . Two gems that will not be forgotten . Happy to learn Ron lived such an adventurous life. Rest in Peace

GOD BLESS RON & HIS FAMILY

Sorry to hear about my friend.