Whether he was on the sidelines of a Prestonsburg High School athletic event, or sitting front-row at a Mountain Arts Center show, Tom Baldridge was all about supporting the community.

As an ever-present encouragement to the school’s athletes, Baldridge was known as a “super fan” who loved his Blackcats.

“He was a mainstay. He was always something you could depend on. Always someone you could talk to,” said Prestonsburg High School assistant principal James Allen.

Baldridge died October 25, but has left a small part of himself with the people who encountered him.

“It’s just a sad day for the Blackcats in general,” Allen said. “To lose a great supporter like that.”

Locals said Baldridge supported everything that the community did and touched everyone he met. Especially those who work at the Mountain Arts Center, where Baldridge was proud to say he attended 975 productions before his death.

“Tom was always one to tell you about it as well,” said Kentucky Opry Director Clayton Case. “He’d let you know that he’d been to that many shows.”

Case said Baldridge was an integral part of the local culture for as long as he can remember.

“Tom Baldrige has been a staple of the community here in Prestonsburg, as well as the Mountain Arts Center,” he said.

And, though his seat at the MAC is now empty, Baldridge hopes his memory will spark more people to be as supportive of the area.

“I hope that we have many, many other folks like Tom Baldridge throughout the years,” Case said.