Joseph Wilson Huston III

The son of a Naval physician, Joe and siblings grew up moving regularly between bases from Key West, FL to Guam - and points in between. Summers spent with maternal grandparents, Lee and Marian Kirkpatrick, in Paris, KY, however, were a constant and laid the foundation for his lifelong love of the Bluegrass State.

While a proud and engaged Nashvillian for over forty years, he always considered himself a Kentuckian at heart. He loved the State and it loved him back, officially naming him a Kentucky Colonel. His High School alma mater, Bryan Station High School, added Joe to its Hall of Distinction in 2012 and the families of Idle Hour Country Club honored his indelible legacy as lifeguard and swim coach at reunions. The grandson of a member of the inaugural University of Kentucky Women’s basketball team, Joe bled blue and his passion for the Wildcats was religion.

This passion was matched by his patriotism. Rising to Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy (enrolled as a member of the Navy’s Ensign 1915 program), Joe proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as General Medical Officer aboard the USS Bryce Canyon, a Shenandoah-class destroyer tender based out of Pearl Harbor.

Joe will be remembered for an exceptionally active and athletic life - starting at a young age. A pool record stands at his alma mater, Washington & Lee University (class of 1967) in the freestyle relay. Living in Hawaii while in the Navy, he and beloved wife, Sally Huston, took daily advantage of island living with sailing, scuba diving and other adventures. He was an avid tennis player and golfer, as well as triathlete and cyclist competing nationwide.

Joe served his community, both in Nashville and beyond, in countless ways. He was President of the board at Children’s House of Nashville, and served on the boards the Arthritis Foundation, Kids on the Block, and the Nashville Predators Foundation. His greatest impact, however, was the care and support he offered patients and medical students in his role as Rheumatologist. Joe completed Medical School (class of 1971), his Internship and Residency program all at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he would later return as Clinical Professor after practicing with both Frist-Scoville Medical Group and Medical Specialist of Nashville. Throughout this tenure Joe’s patients developed a deep respect for both him and his thoughtful approach to medicine. His was caregiving at its best. While he won many awards and honors for various achievements and victories, the ones he cherished most were his teaching awards, given by his students and residents. Joe was a superb teacher and it was this role that he loved most about medicine.

Joe and Sally’s fifty-two-year marriage was marked by many wonderful adventures and milestones. They shared the fun of tennis, golf, biking, swimming and travel with journeys across both the country and globe; including cycling tours of the South of France, trips through National Parks, Alaska, Italy, the British Isles, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brazil and beyond. And together they raised two sons, S. Brooks Huston of New York City, and Hunter K. Huston, MD of Nashville. His sons were the light and pride of Joe’s life.

Joe’s is predeceased by his brother Stuart E. Huston Sr. He is survived by adored daughter-in-law, Jessica H. Huston, MD, and loving grandsons Hank and Flynn Huston, as well as, a sister, Lee H. Carroll, and cousins, a niece and nephews who loved him dearly.

Far from a conformist Joe never took himself too seriously and was comfortable doing things his own way. “To thine own self be true” was a favorite refrain. There was no need for a blazer when a Preds jersey would do just fine, and keeping up appearances was never on the agenda. Not one to hold back on expressing emotion, it wasn’t always just tennis balls Joe sent flying over the net. He was passionate and not afraid to show it. His preferred epitaph, “and the winner is”, says it all.

While sometimes fiery and not one to suffer fools, Joe gave himself fully to his friends (of whom there were many) and family. Loyal, selfless and never judgmental, Joe’s humor and penchant for irreverence endeared him to those he cared about, and those who cared about him. Joe will be remembered by those who loved him as an athlete, prankster, family man, devoted care giver, ally to friends, history buff, Nashville Predators superfan, MoJo and so much more.

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