The Ultimate Hornet……RUDY!

Rudolph Whiteside was born in Houston, Harris County, Texas on June 17, 1953, to Bennie Annette Smith-Whiteside and James Louis Whiteside. Rudolph was born cerebral palsy and was not expected to live very long, but mom filled him full of vitamins every day.

At a young age Rudolph attend Galilee Baptist Church in Houston Acreage Home Texas with his mother and family. He attend Wesley Elementary and graduated M C Williams High School in 1972, in Houston, Texas.  He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1980s with his mother and later they moved to Modesto, California until they moved back to Tulsa in 1986.

Rudolph had a steady job at Sertoma Workshop from 2009 until around March of 2019. He received lots of achievement certificates and other awards while working there. He was a very dedicated worker and hardly missed a day of work.

Rudolph was a delightful person, pure at heart, he loved children, especially babies. He could not express himself fully later in life, but he expressed himself through hand jesters. Rudolph was loved wherever he went, of course some people did not understand him because of his autism, but he was loved (spoiled).

Rudolph, we acknowledge you for your presence, your smile, your love for people, it did not matter a person's color, he loved people in general, we loved you especially for your love of sports.

Most people want to be recognized by what they do, what they say, what they wear but not Rudolph, he didn't have to do anything, he had his own charismatic way with people, all he had to do was smile and start a conversation about sports, especially football.

Rudolph was a die-heart Booker T Washington and Carver Jr. School fan. It didn't matter the weather rain, sleet or snow, Rudolph was there. He hardly missed a football or basketball game or their practices and even gave pep talks to the players and coaches in the locker rooms. Rudolph was everywhere, out of town games, Memorial High School at his nephew Volta's games, at Central High School games, there wasn't a game that was playing he did not go to. How did he get there? With the love of the community, people that knew he wanted to get to the games, and they took him there and back home. Rudolph did not play sports, but he knew the game and if a play wasn't called right the referees would hear it, whether he was watching it on television or in person.

As I mentioned, Rudolph loved sports and he would make it a point to be where there was a game. I want to thank the people that loved and respected Rudolph to give him rides, especially Coach Fisher at BTW. Rudolph was very well like by the Northside Community, he is what George Frazier, Jr. said Rudolph was the "Radio" of the community. He has been acknowledged by his Facebook by himself there and back home, only until his health started to decline is when his caregiver or sisters gave him a ride to the games.family as a legend and that he should be in the Booker T Washington's Hall of Fame.

Rudolph never married and did not have any children, but he loved children, especially babies.

Rudolph is preceded in death by his mother, Bennie Annette Smith-Whiteside, father, James Louis Whiteside Jr. He leaves to cherish his loving memory three-sister, Francida Annette Mitchell (Alfred-deceased), Jacqueline Marie Thompson (Willie-deceased), Hattie Mae Whiteside-Lucas (Larry) and one brother, James Lewis Whiteside, III, 30-nieces and nephews, 86-great nieces and nephews and 44-great great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends and co-workers.