Herman Whitney
PAYSL President since January 2017
June 30th marks the last day for those serving on the 2020-2021 PAYSL Board of Directors. It is also the last day that Herman Whitney serves in the role as president of PAYSL. Herman has been this organization’s fearless leader since January 2017. In those four years, he has helped the club progress exponentially and has boldly tackled many ambitious fundraising events. His enthusiasm and passion for youth soccer is apparent in everything he does, from providing sponsorship jerseys to our youngest 4U players to coaching and cheering on the oldest players in PFC Select. He’s been at every major PAYSL and PFC event and very rarely misses game days, working at Wells Point Park from opening to closing most weekends of each season. His smile and charm is infectious and he's always seen greeting anyone and everyone at the fields, with many of us wondering if one individual could possibly know every single person in the community.
Along with being the face of PAYSL and PFC, Herman also worked tirelessly in all the fundraising events he started. One of his most memorable and successful fundraisers was August 2019’s Million Dollar Shootout, a golf tournament held at Forest Creek Country Club, in which many PAYSL and PFC families and community members came out to participate and show their support. It was an incredible event filled with fun, excitement, anticipation, and togetherness. On top of that, he held another triumphant fundraiser that same year in December, PFC’s First Annual Holiday Gala. Pflugerville FC families joined in, bidding on gift baskets and enjoying a night of great food and dancing. In attendance that evening was Pflugerville’s Mayor, Victor Gonzales, who surprised Herman by naming December 13th as Herman Whitney Day, in honor of his hard work, dedication, and service to PAYSL and the community! It was a night to remember and a well-deserved tribute to an outstanding individual who has selflessly given so much of his time and energy.
Pflugerville Mayor, Victor Gonzales, named December 13th Herman Whitney Day!
Luckily for us, Herman will continue on the board in a smaller role, as Division III’s VP of Girls and also the editor of PAYSL’s newsletter, the Pitch. We’ll also see him out on the fields this fall, coaching PFC Select’s 05G Blue team. In his last big push as president, he leaves this role in the only way he knows how.. by going out STRONG! Thanks to his incredible persuasion and persistence, PAYSL now has a part in all of Austin FC’s home games! He worked extremely hard in securing PAYSL a concession stand at Q2 Stadium and you can find him at every Austin FC home game volunteering his time at the ATX Doghouse, working alongside board members and parents of PAYSL and PFC players.
Throughout his four years, he has made many friendships and inspired everyone he works with. PFC 07G Green’s coach Roberto Lopez said of Whitney, “he always went to bat for me; he was very supportive of the team and he believed in me and he believed in the girls.” One of his greatest supporters is board member and PFC Select coach, Yossef Al-Mashouq. Below is a heartfelt message to Herman from Yossef:
“I just wanted to say thank you for all you’ve done for the community of Pflugerville. The time and effort you’ve put into having a club we can call our own and be proud of is something that isn’t easily attained. Under your leadership, you’ve shown so many of us what a leader is and how to conduct ourselves on and off the field.
I remember to this day how much uncertainty there was when the 05’s were the only Challenger team the club had and you had to endure so much from us and every parent trying to take their frustrations out on the club as you sat as president. Time after time, you sat on phone calls, went to team meetings, city meetings, and so on and so forth. Seeing your vision for where we wanted to be and the work it was going to take was no easy task, let alone staying the course and having faith to accomplish it. I’ve modeled my entire team culture based on the values you’ve tried to instill into our youths.
Being able to be present when you got a day proclaimed to honor you for all your hard work was one of the crowning achievements I’ve had at PFC since joining the board and being a coach. I’m sorry that is nowhere near enough to thank you for all you’ve done, for me and for my son, and all the many other sons and daughters at PAYSL and PFC. We are all indebted to your drive, dedication all the while remaining humble and wise. I only hope we can make you proud.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I hope to continue working with you even outside the club with your H3LP endeavors.”
John Livingston, PAYSL’s incoming president, reflected, “Herman’s heart and energy are alive throughout every part of the club. His impact will continue on for years within PAYSL and the entire Pflugerville soccer community. It seems like everyday I find out about something else he’s involved in, always helping and giving. Herman is PAYSL.”
From all of us on the board, we thank you for your fierce leadership, commitment, enthusiasm, positivity, passion, and unending support throughout all your years as president. We proudly stand by your side and support you in all your future endeavors. Your legacy will never be forgotten. One Team. One Goal. Harambe.
