Jackson Free Press

When Dr. Leo Huddleston found out he had won the 2007 Jackson Free Press "Best of Jackson" awards for best chiropractor and best doctor, he was in Panama City, Fla., at a friend's house.

"It elated me so much that I just jumped up emphatically out of that chair like (I had) a spring in the rear end and headed on down to the beach," he says. He proceeded to walk up and down the beach for miles "just screaming and hollering" to anyone who would listen about his good fortune. "What a great experience that was."

At the time, Huddleston has been in practice in Jackson for more than two decades. "I thought to myself, 'You know, there's nothing, ever, even close to being as exciting and as much of a reward than the people of the community electing you as best doctor and best chiropractor after 25 years service in the community,'" he says.

Five years later, the experience is just as fresh in his mind as it was then, Huddleston says, and last week, he called the Jackson Free Press just to let us know how appreciative he was for the honor.

Huddleston's involvement in the community extends to the Rainbow Whole Foods Cooperative Grocery, where he's held just about every available office on the board over the years. He says the folks at Rainbow probably had a lot to do with his getting the best-of awards.

He's turning 60 this year, and Jackson has been Huddleston's home for half his life. Sue, his wife (whom he calls "my all-time, ever-loving sweet mama, eighth wonder of the world, princess of prettiness, queen of cute, ninth-grade sweetheart and business partner" all in one breath), turns 60 this year as well. The couple is approaching their 36th wedding anniversary.

Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Huddleston began his Mississippi practice in Decatur in Newton County—population 1,048—on the advice of his father.

"My daddy said, 'Boy, let me tell you something: You go to a little town where everybody knows you, and everybody knows your comings and goings, everybody knows your mistakes. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere,'" Huddleston says. "Going to a small town, you learn a lot about any kind of business."

He moved his practice to Jackson in the '80s when many health-insurance companies dropped coverage for chiropractic, and he needed a larger pool of potential clients. "Central Mississippi is just a real fine place for a fellow who's involved in safe and natural health care," he says. "... The person who's a true health-care servant is looking for the place where he can serve the most amount of people in the most effective manner."

Huddleston is a self-described health nut who talks with his patients about alternative and natural ways to get and stay healthy. He believes that taking pills isn't necessarily the best way to live a long and healthy life, especially when changes in lifestyle and nutrition can have a much better effect.

The doctor is also a serious athlete and athletic trainer. Huddleston was a body builder who joined his first health club in the 1960s. He's a certified personal fitness trainer through the national academy of sports trainers, and has won several bodybuilding competitions, including the title of Mr. Tennessee in 1971 and Mr. Mississippi in the master's division at age 40. He's hoping to compete again this year if the over-60 division is offered.