Living a "PIF" Life in Style!

My son, Dustin Marshall Huffman, lived his life with a “Pay It Forward” style.

We watched the movie “Pay It Forward” many, many times over the years. I didn’t realize how much the movie affected the way he lived his life until all the stories starting coming out.

On June 30, 2009 Dustin was killed after falling 100 feet from a cliff at Gretchen’s Lock in Beaver Creek State Park. Only 3 weeks after winning a State Title in Track

Following the funeral on July 4th we received a phone call from a lady who proceeded to tell us, “You don’t know me but I met your son last winter when I was stuck in a snowbank. He broke his straps trying to pull me out but said not to worry, he’d be right back. In a short while he returned with some heavy duty chains and pulled my car out of the ditch with no trouble. As I approached him with my purse he got a big smile on his face and said, Thank you Ma’am but all I want is a handshake.” Since that time we have had numerous people come to us with similar stories.

We have created the “Dustin Huffman Memorial Scholarship” To Encourage Others to Respect Life, Work Hard and Help Others As Dustin Did.

I couldn’t be more proud of my son. I just wish he was still here with us. It is amazing the number of lives he touched in our community as well as the surrounding area. He was respected by his classmates and staff at Salem Senior High School. He was known as, “The Leader of the Pack” and “The One Who Saves the Day”.
There are many people who truly believe Dustin was an angel sent here to do just what he did: Inspire a community to “Pay It Forward”.


Last year a number of business and organization volunteered fundraisers for the scholarship without any prompting at all.

They came to us! Salem Dairy Queen donated $1.00 for every blizzard sold for one week. In that week they sold 650 blizzards. The Leetonia Dairy Queen hosted a car show which proved very successful. Dustin was friends with the owner of the Leetonia Dairy Queen’s daughter. He gave me the biggest compliment anyone could ever give a mother. He told me that he had really hoped Megan and Dustin’s friendship would develop into something more because he wanted Dustin for a son-in-law! (This came from a very overprotective daddy that didn’t like any guy she had ever brought home.) Country Singer Cheyenne West and numerous other bands hosted a benefit concert, Men of Faith put on a Breakfast of Champions program in Dustin’s Honor as well as a car wash fundraiser.

This year there are a number of activities planned.

They have retired his track number and are presently organizing a Dustin Huffman Invitational Relay. The Sprucevale Overlook, which sits about 50 yards up from the site of the accident, has been officially renamed “The Dustin Huffman Memorial Overlook”. There will be a dedication at the Park on June 26th with a variety of activities planned and music. There will also be another Benefit Concert on August 21st at Ponderosa Park and the Leetonia Dairy Queen is planning another Car Show.

Please take the time to check out the scholarship website and Facebook fan page.

There are many stories and tributes dedicated to this very special young man.

I hope you have the time to check out the information I have provided you. It has touched many lives.

Respectfully,
Michelle Huffman