The Story Behind The Number
The award began on Military Appreciation Night.
Some jersey numbers carry a story that every generation of Panthers should know. At Derby, number 56 carries the memory of Joe Herndon.
This season, Derby Football will honor that memory through the Joe Herndon Freshman of the Week Award. Each week, our seniors will select a deserving freshman whose actions reflect the character, loyalty, service, and commitment Joe showed throughout his life.
Joe graduated from Derby High School in 2001 and served as a captain of the Panther football team. He wore number 56, a jersey our program has held back in his honor. Those who knew him remembered someone who gave his time freely, lifted the spirits of others, and cared deeply about the people beside him.
It’s been said that if you were Joe’s teammate, you knew you had someone you could count on. He offered encouragement and help through football, and later welcomed new soldiers who were finding their place in his unit. He understood how much it mattered to have someone in your corner.
That dependability followed him beyond Panther Stadium.
Joe went on to serve in the United States Army with the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. In Iraq, he became known for his courage and devotion to his fellow soldiers. He helped a wounded soldier reach safety while injured himself and received two Purple Hearts before his death. Those who served with him remembered how determined he was to return to his unit and be there for his fellow soldiers.
On July 29, 2004, Joe was killed while serving in Iraq. He was 21 years old.
Behind his strength was a deeply caring heart. His wife, Melanie, was his closest friend, and those who knew him remembered the affection in his voice when he spoke about her and their future together. Through the memorial scholarship she created in his honor, Joe’s legacy continues to help young people pursue their futures. It is a lasting expression of her love and the influence he still has on others.
The Joe Herndon Freshman of the Week Award adds another way for our football family to keep that influence alive.
Joe’s life reflects the core values we teach in Derby Football: Accountability, Character, Energy, and Service. He showed accountability by being someone others could depend on. His character came through in his loyalty and kindness. His energy lifted the people around him. His service was evident in the time he gave to others, his care for his fellow soldiers, and his commitment to his country.
Our seniors will help teach those values to the next generation. In choosing a freshman each week, they will look for the qualities Joe’s life calls us to practice: being dependable, welcoming a new teammate, accepting responsibility, helping someone who needs it, and putting the team ahead of personal recognition.
A freshman can show those qualities every day. They appear in how he practices, how he treats people, how he responds when things are difficult, and whether his teammates can trust him to do his part.
We want every recipient to understand the person behind the award. Joe once stood where our players stand. He wore Derby across his chest, shared a locker room with his teammates, and helped build the tradition they now carry forward.
Number 56 gives us a reason to tell his story. This award gives our players an opportunity to live out the qualities that made him so deeply respected and loved.
Each week, we will honor a freshman who is beginning to show what Joe understood: being someone others can count on is one of the greatest contributions you can make to a team.
