"Brick" Warden (Gordon E. Warden, Jr.) of Huntsville died at the age of 95 in his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, July 25, 2024.  He was preceded in death by his father, Gordon E. Warden Sr. and mother, Pearl Viola Harr Warden; brother, Charles Warden; sister, Sara Jean Warden Davies; and son, John Warden. He is survived by his spouse, Mary Jean Williams Warden; children: Joseph Warden, David Warden, Mark Atkins, Blayne Rose and Ashley Rose Sneed and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As a native of Huntsville, Brick graduated Huntsville High School (1947) participating in football, basketball, tennis and track to name a few of his athletic abilities. He was instrumental connecting classmates through a monthly meeting ("HHS Super Class") which included his classmates from the the 1940s which grew to include classmates up to the 2000s.  He was proud to be a panther. He then attended and played tennis for the University of the South (1951). He continued his education receiving a Masters in English from Alabama and Master of Divinity at Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary (1961).

Professionally, Brick was a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association for over 60 years. He played the southern and national tournaments for several years and later served as head professional/director of clubs in Miami, Charlotte, Chicago and Milwaukee. He also coached college tennis and golf. He eventually returned to his hometown of Huntsville as head professional/director of Huntsville Tennis Center in 1970 and retired in 1997. During that time, he was instrumental managing local tennis events and ended his tenure traveling as chief verifier for USTA league tennis.  Later he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Huntsville Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame and the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame.

He was best known by his family and friends as one of the most dedicated Kentucky basketball fans of all time; not missing a game in person, radio or TV since 1939.  He was also famous for his quirky sense of humor with quick-witted puns, love for music/poetry and overall love and respect for all living things. We want to share one of his poems so you all can know Brick in a way you may not have experienced. He will be missed by all.

My List

Written by Brick Warden

I have made a list of things. They are things that matter. They are dear and precious things freely given to us. They are wondrous and magical and are every where, waiting for us to open our eyes and our hearts to let them in.

So stop, still your mind and lose yourself completely in this present moment. Don't be anxious to go to the next moment because we only live in this one. Only by living one moment at a time will all those gifts be ours.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to one of the following  organizations:
1. Huntsville High Football Booster Club: https://www.hhspanthers.org/booster-club---football
2. Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care: https://www.huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org/get-involved/give-now
Designate: Hospice Family Care