John A. Huffer, Ball State University Photographer
May 2,1959-Sept. 26, 2013
The UPAA Board of Directors was saddened to learn that John A. Huffer, Ball State university photographer and two-time UPAA Photographer of the Year (2003 & 2005), suddenly passed away on Sept. 26, 2013. He was 54 years old and is survived by his wife Pam and his two daughters, Emily and Jordan.
John’s images made a huge impression, especially in his uncanny ability to capture the decisive moment in sports action. His images were way ahead of the quality curve during the earlier years of digital fast-action photography that seemed to challenge so many of the rest of us.
John was a lifer at Ball State, having moved up from the ranks as a student shooter to university staff photographer to coordinator for Photo Services. He also had been teaching two classes a week in photography for the High Technology Department.
John left an incredible archive and legacy of photography in his more than three decades of shooting at Ball State. He was beloved and respected as much for his personality as for his photographic eye. John’s impact and the enormity of his loss were evident in the enormous turnout by the student body and Ball State faculty and staff at his memorial service, which was held on campus.
John’s legacy in photography at Ball State continues as his daughter Jordan is now excelling as a student photographer in her own right. Donations are being collected by the Ball State University Cardinal Varsity club in John’s name, with proceeds going toward construction of a new baseball stadium.