Swingbuster

[LClifton]

Folks,

It is with deep regret that I pass on some more shocking information. Garrett Retka just informed me that Swingbuster (Donny Buster) passed away this morning. Garrett attempted to call Donny today and was informed by the family.

Donny was "off the charts" on the scale of hitting knowledge. A self made, hard working, truth seeking, hitting information detective....with the only goal of helping kids. His work on separation and weight shift and the teaching of it to kids was unsurpassed. With great pride he would talk about the High School team he helped coach, that put up impressive offensive numbers, even though the amount of time he had with each individual kid was limited. Keeping it simple so a kid could reap the benefits quickly was important to him, even though his mountain of knowledge was behind the simple instruction.

Dmac called it "Tip N Rip". Donny called it BHUT. And while video has shown the move for years they (and Tom) were the first I encountered to actually explain its significance. BHUT was a simple move, defined by Donny as a mechanism to create separation and weight shift by using the hands to "tell" the lower body what to do. Just this morning, in a conversation with Garrett, I referred to Donny's "pronation of the top hand" and how that kept one from pushing with the hands toward the ball.

I had an email exchange with him recently. I asked him if he was OK because he hadn't been posting. He said he was having 'sleep' problems, something he had encountered before, and that he would shake it and be OK. He asked me to keep it confidential. He said he needed to cut back some.

My sincerest heart felt condolences are offered to his family. I know of a son Reid. I'm not sure if there are other children or not.

One of his posts that stood out to me was written at Easter time when he asked that we all try to get along in the "spirit of the season".

While some disagreed with his hitting information, no one could challenge Donny's character and integrity. I'm praying for Donny. Please join me.
..........

[Jake Patterson]

It's difficult to know what to say. Baseball has truly lost two great students of the game in a very short period of time. Donny was a true gentleman.

My prayers are with his family....
Jake

[Erik]

Please pray for Donny and his family. This is such a terrible loss. Donny RIP!!







EL,

[MSandman]

Donny was one of my closest internet baseball buddies over the past few years. Hundreds of email exchanges, several phone calls, free equipment to try, etc..

I always admired his passion and fortitude to say the things that he knew would invoke criticism, but in the interest of further knowledge, he had the gumption to say anyway. Here was a guy whose son's time w/ him in baseball was behind him, yet he still tinkered away, for the sake of anyone and everyone else he could help.

He and I shared one thing in common (as I'm sure many others did): we have more than one student to teach and he took great pride in being able to make the little adjustments that would help a whole team of kids hit, despite less-than-perfect swing mechanics. On the field, there's no video camera, and a good hitting coach is worth his weight in gold to help get kids back on track and boost their confidence in the box.

I can't begin to convey how heavy my heart is over this (as well as the recent loss of Doug), but I hope the 2 of them meet up to continue sharing stories and watching all of our hitters.

Deepest condolences to his son Reid and the rest of the Buster family.

Mike

[LClifton]

My tribute to Donny Buster,

He always had time for me, my questions, and never once made me feel like he was superior in knowledge, although he was.

The number of phone calls I made to him, he always had time to help me convey messages better, to my students.

My heart hurts badly right now. I spoke to him, on May 25th because I hadn't seen his normal early morning posts and he told me he was fine, under a little stress, but assured me he was fine.

He was like a brother to me, as much as that is possible over phone calls and posts. He always made me feel as though he was glad to hear from me.

I will miss him more than mere words can explain.

[TrojanSkipper]

This is sad and hopefully his family will see the support and care that many had for Donny on this and other web sites. He was a positive man with a passion... my prayers for comfort to his family in this very difficult time.

[Swing Coach]

Didn't really know Donny, but he befriended me on a personal message, offering to sell me his "low-tee" for $49 if I would "give it hell!" Regular price on his webiste is well over $100. I received it within two days of us talking.

Great heart!

[LClifton]

More information...



Local veterinarian, Dr. Benjamin Donaldson Buster, dies


BY Jean T. Martin

Saturday, June 2, 2007 10:51 PM CDT



THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

Dr. Benjamin Donaldson “Donny” Buster died June 1 at Vaughan Regional Medical Center, Selma. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 4, at First Baptist Church, corner of Dallas Avenue and Lauderdale Street, with the Rev. Jack Lovelace and The Rev. Dr. John Fain officiating. Burial will be in New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive visitors from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at Lawrence Funeral Home Chapel.

Born in Selma April 14, 1954, he was the son of Betty Burke and William Russell Buster Jr. After graduating from Morgan Academy in 1972, he enrolled at Auburn University, where he received his bachelor's degree, then entered Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine.


After earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Buster entered practice at Selma Animal Hospital, where his practice extended beyond his care and love of animals, large and small, to their owners. His concern for them, the comfort and reassurance he gave in full measure as a physician engendered friendships throughout the Black Belt area.

One of his strengths was his love of young people and his active interest in their involvement in sports, in particular the Morgan Academy baseball program, which he served as a volunteer coach.

He possessed an intense interest in the mechanics of sports, and created a training aid for baseball, forming a company known as “Swing Buster Sports, LLC, and working in its manufacturing and marketing.

Golf was one of his favorite sports, the game in which his golfing friends affectionately named him “Dr. Golf, because he could always tell you how to swing” says John Morris, a friend since junior high school days and a fellow alumnus of Kappa Alpha fraternity.

“Donny had the gift of making life brighter and more fun. His wit, his good humor, his willingness to share it with others brightened people's lives. He and I could always make each other laugh, no matter the circumstance.

“The world will not be as happy a place without him.”

Jere Peak, another of Donny Buster's large circle of friends and a Kappa Alpha brother, spoke of “his incredible love for his family and his friends and for life. That is the thing that set him apart.”

Pausing to chuckle, Peak said “Donny was always quick to give advice, lovingly, in baseball as well as golf, which is the reason he was also known as ‘Dr. Swing,' because he could always tell you a way it could be better. He had the unique gift of endearing himself across all social and cultural circles. In our 40 years of friendship we never had a cross word. I have never heard anyone say an unkind word about Donny Buster.”

Dr. Buster is survived by his wife, Bonnie Rowell Buster to whom he was married June 18, 1977; a daughter, Brooke Buster of Birmingham; a son, Reid Buster, an Auburn University student; his parents, Betty and Russell Buster; a brother, Rusty Buster and his wife Ruth of Cullman; his uncle, Ralph Buster of Sardis; his aunt, Virginia B. Hollinger of Camden; and a large extended family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Donny Buster Memorial Fund at First Baptist Church.

Pallbearers are Dr. Mike Wells, John Morris, Mike Wood, Jere Peak, Norris Green, Lyle Smith, Dr. George Wood and Dr. Mark Lawrence.

Honorary pallbearers are Rick Rowell, Burke Buster, Russell Buster IV, Jim Streetman, Everett Stewart, Bobby Driggers, Doug Smith, Jack Callen and Andy Rives.
http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/art...ews%201048.txt

[Jake Patterson]

Thanks Loren.

[kylebee]

Sigh.

RIP, man. Two seriously helpful posters in my short stay here on Baseball-Fever and this happens.

[wogdoggy]

I surely will misss Donny he was always very nice to me and took the time to always help me.My prayers go out to donny and his family.:pray:

[BoardMember]

Wow, this is terrible and tremendously sad news.

I've had many exchanges with Mr. Buster on various boards over the past year or so. He was an embassador of civility with me, even when he dissagreed, or had a point of his own to make. Donny had a way of speaking in terms I understood, unlike may others, and allowing me to present a different point of view in a conversation.

My condolences to his family, and may Mr. Donny Buster be remembered by all of us as someone who deserves the very best accomodations at "The Resort in the Sky".

Rest in peace Swingbuster. I won't soon forget you........

My tribute to Donny Buster,

He always had time for me, my questions, and never once made me feel like he was superior in knowledge, although he was.

The number of phone calls I made to him, he always had time to help me convey messages better, to my students.

My heart hurts badly right now. I spoke to him, on May 25th because I hadn't seen his normal early morning posts and he told me he was fine, under a little stress, but assured me he was fine.

He was like a brother to me, as much as that is possible over phone calls and posts. He always made me feel as though he was glad to hear from me.

I will miss him more than mere words can explain.

[pgibbons]

Wow, I can't believe this - really sorry for Donny and his family. Early on I used to ignore his posts, but eventually I learned he had many valuable insights to share and I looked forward to his posts. I'm glad I had the opprtunity to tell him of my respect for him before he passed.