A former quarterback and running back and more recently a truck-driving businessman from Hixson will be honored Saturday at a brunch presented by the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Steve Daffron, who will be entering his sixth season as an assistant football coach at Hixson High School, has been named winner of the George L. Hunter Distinguished Service Award.
"He's been volunteering here for a while and he handles just a lot of stuff for us," said Hixson coach Dan Duff, who nominated Daffron. "He is the man when it comes to Hudl."
In addition to handling Hudl, the venue many coaches now use for video exchange, Daffron has helped Houston White, Jason Fitzgerald and now Duff on the field, coaching defensive backs, defensive line and now linebackers.
"I'm like a utility infielder," Daffron said. "If they needed a running backs coach I'd coach running backs. It's never dull."
Said Duff: "In addition to coaching the defensive line for me last year, he also handles the equipment and the equipment room."
From Whitwell High years ago, Daffron went to Memphis State as a quarterback and transferred to East Tennessee State, where he became a running back. After he finished his collegiate career -- his last game was at UTC's Chamberlain Field against Joe Morrison's Mocs -- Daffron coached a year at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett before entering private business.
He was a trucking owner-operator for several years before fuel costs and an aggravating economy led him to sell his truck and leave the headaches and heartaches to someone else as he continued life as a trucker.
Along the way he had suffered an automobile accident that left him with a hip replacement. He still grimaces recalling the day in Asheville, N.C., when the hip popped out and it took the fire department and a pair of ambulance crew members to pry him out of his cab.
After nine hip replacements and a custom-made joint now in place, he's technically disabled but living what he'd call the high life. It's a life that revolves around Hixson football -- three hours per day four days per week for practice, another eight hours on game day, six hours of video work on Saturday and then usually another six hours on Sunday afternoons.
He'll crank it up next week for spring practice and again in mid-July when preseason work begins.
"Last year we went two rounds deep into the playoff, so football can be a long season even if you're winning," he said.
It is a lifestyle he and his family have embraced.
"My wife loves it. My brother comes to all the games," Daffron said.
When asked if football kept him from being underfoot at home, the coach smiled and replied, "She doesn't say that, but I'm sure it's true."
She knows, too, that he is making a difference.
"He does it for free. All he wants is to help these kids and this community. Without him it would be extremely hard," Duff said.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.