I grew up in North Alabama and always looked up to DeWayne. Not only for what he did as a runner, but Because he was a genuinely nice guy.
I got to know DeWayne a little bit during my high school years at the Huntsville Track Club Tuesday Night Runs. Always took the time to chat with me as a young runner about training and racing. I idolized him in those days. It meant so much that he took interest in my running.
Whenever my non-running friends as me what I think about the Barkley Marathons documentary, I always say the same thing. “You remember that dude who they showed tapping out with a smile on his face? That’s one of the baddest runners I’ve ever know .”
DeWayne did so much to inspire young runners like me growing up in North Alabama and he was a great ambassador for the Huntsville running community. He will be missed by a lot of people.