Randy L. Dawdy, 53

Randy L. Dawdy, 53, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010.

He was born on March 16, 1957, in Myrtle  Point, Ore., to Leigh and Hazel Marie (Bear) Dawdy.

He will be profoundly missed by family, loved ones, devoted friends, and the community of Whitefish where he made his life and was known as the “Voice of the Bulldogs.”

Randy returned to Montana as a baby. He graduated from Whitefish High School in 1976, where he played football. After high school, he worked for Home Lumber in Whitefish; later he went to work as a custodian in the Whitefish schools. He also worked for the Whitefish Parks and Recreation and could be seen every summer riding the mower around the parks and byways of town. He was very involved in the community and volunteered his time generously. Although Randy did not have children of his own, he was devoted to the children of Whitefish.

He was a Glacier Twins baseball member from 1973 to 1991, and served on the board of directors in 1988. He was a Little League volunteer from 1976 to 1991. He was a member of the American Legion Baseball Volunteers and was a Whitefish Chamber Youth Activities volunteer guard throughout the 1980s.

For 30 years, Randy announced all the high school sporting events and was affectionately known around town as “The Voice of the Bulldogs.” He was inducted into the Whitefish High School Hall of Fame in 2005 for his continual support to the students of Whitefish. As it reads on his plaque that is in the high school foyer, “Friend of WHS Athletics Forever.”

In any spare time that he had left, he was fishing, especially Upper Whitefish Lake. His fondest adventure was a fishing trip with his father to Alaska. Randy loved the outdoors and enjoyed traveling through the various mountains and parks around Whitefish.

Randy was preceded in death by his father and mother, Leigh and Hazel Marie (Bear) Dawdy.

He is survived by his sister, Leona, and Bob Karl; nephew Ryan and niece Megan, of Edgewater, Md.; his aunt, Shirley Hughes; uncle, Ray, and Bette Bear; and cousins in Kalispell.

A memorial service is planned for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at the First Baptist Church of Whitefish, 6232 Hwy. 93 S. Whitefish.

The family suggest donations be sent in Randy’s name to: Dialysis Patient Fund, 135 Commons Way, Kalispell, MT 59901; or the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd No. 1010, Rockville, MD 20852.

Austin Funeral Home will be taking care of Randy’s Family.