and Don Elston were among the pallbearers. He was buried at Montecito Memorial Park, in Colton. Santo had visited his friend and teammate in California two days before the crash and had gone up in Hubbs' plane during the visit. After parting, Santo went home to Seattle, while Hubbs headed to Provo. Santo recalled Hubbs saying, "When I get up there, Ron, and I fly, it's like being next to God. It's like I’m next to God." Ernie Banks said, "Any athlete who ever played with Hubbs will dedicate the rest of his career to Ken because he was the zenith in inspiration and enthusiasm as well as desire and determination." Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Kenneth Douglass Hubbs was more than just another baseball player. He was the kind of athlete all games need. A devout Mormon, a cheerful leader, a picture-book player, blond-haired, healthy, generous with his time for young boys; he was the kind of youth in short supply in these selfish times." "There isn't a man in Chicago who wouldn't have been proud to have him as a son," said Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. "Ken and I were both religious, we were always joking – trying to convert each other. I'm Catholic, he was a Mormon. But after he died, I had to see a priest," said Ron Santo. "I couldn’t understand it. I mean, he loved life. He was a great human being. This was a kid who didn't even smoke or drink. Why him?" Lou Boudreau, who then was a Cubs' radio announcer, said, "At the time he died, I felt he was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. His bat hadn't come around, but it would have." "Kenny would have been one of the all-time greats," said Don Elston. "Kenny was one of the to-be all-stars, Hall of Famers." Billy Connors, Hubbs' Little League world series rival, became a teammate and friend in the minor leagues. Connors eventually became a long time major league pitching coach. He said of Hubbs, "I've seen a lot of professional players through the years, but I would describe Kenny as a perfect player. He had great talent, great makeup, an amazing will to win." Personal life Hubbs came from a devout Mormon family and often visited children in hospitals and spoke to church groups. Ken's older brother, Keith Hubbs, played