Eddy J. Alderson

Hiley Edwin J. (Eddy) Alderson, 86, of St. Petersburg, died September 2, 2014. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years Eleanor Sassano Alderson, two daughters Ann Alderson and Jan Alderson, 2 grandchildren Lisa Lesperance and Gregory Lesperance, and many nieces and nephews. Eddy first came to St. Petersburg in the late 1930s from Missouri with his parents Perry and Dorhla Alderson, who raced greyhounds at Derby Lane. He served in the US Air Force during Korea. After being discharged he returned to St. Petersburg where he began his own greyhound racing career. Alderson�s passion was greyhound racing. Those that knew him describe him as a humble and admired gentleman in the Greyhound industry. In 1939 Eddy tagged along in the kennel and studied his father Greyhound Hall of Famer P. C. �Perry� Alderson�s training methods. When Eddy was 21 he and his father began working together in the kennel until P.C.�s death in 1963. Eddy took over and went on to manage and train some of the best greyhounds in the history of American racing. Many of the Alderson-trained greyhounds are still among the most talked about athletes locally and nationally like Killer Diller, Guy Kirby, Hey Vern and K�s Viking. Eddy�s best producer was his Irish female Curry Hill Gem. And one of his most popular was Indiana Jones, whom he named after the popular movie. Six other of Alderson�s greyhounds earned national awards as an All-America team member. Xandra, Uncle Albert, Night Gent, Oxford Shoes and Wiretex were team members, as well as Fallon who also earned a Flashy Sir title for top distance athlete in 1984. Eddy made an impact locally and nationally. His E. J. Alderson kennel was ranked #14th among hundreds of kennels racing in North America in the last century. Eddy, known as a goodwill ambassador for the greyhound industry and committed to preserving the history of the sport, was a leader of the team that oversaw construction of the Greyhound Hall of Fame, opening in Abilene, KS in 1973. He served as the first president of the Greyhound Hall of Fame board of trustees and as a trustee for over 30 years. He also served on the board of the National Greyhound Association for over 15 years and was active in the Florida Greyhound Association. Eddy was a great communicator and stayed well educated and informed to implement positive changes in the industry. He was inducted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame in 2000. Eddy was a member of St. Raphael�s Catholic Church, the Suncoasters, and a past president of St. Petersburg Rotary Club. He was a diehard Florida Gators fan, and loved road trips and spending time with friends at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, of which he and Eleanor were members for 50-plus years. He adored his wife and family, and will be remembered for his storytelling and sense of humor. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 7 at 3:00pm at R. Lee Williams Funeral Home, 3530 49th St. N. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior. In lieu of flowers, friends may honor Eddy with a donation to the Greyhound Hall of Fame (785-263-3000).