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Bill has been a great friend to me as long as I have known
him. He encouraged me in my work at the college and was always a
faithful supporter of my coaching. If you've ever coached, you know
how few backers you ever truly have, so any are welcomed with open
arms. Bill went out of his way to prove his loyalty. He would call
me after a tough loss or an exciting win just to let me know that he
was keeping track of my team's progress. He'd invite me to Rotary to
share my team's story with all the professionals there. In his
introductions he made me feel like I was the coach of the Illini or
some really big-time program, when we all knew that I was just
toiling in Lincoln. He commented often on how critically important
the local colleges were to our local economy. When I crazily
agreed to serve as the economic development director, Bill was one
of the first on the scene to offer me his help, his advice, his
creative ideas or his shoulder when I was taking some hits. If there
were people who were more pro-Lincoln than he was, I didn't meet
many of them. In my lifetime he is truly a gentleman I can
point to who really "got it!"
Since his stroke last week I have really been bummed. I used to
go into the bank and he and I would solve many world problems. We
would bounce ideas off each other regarding local developments. And
then eventually the conversation would turn to Illini sports. You
should've seen him light up on that topic. Few fans will ever be as
well-versed as Bill was on Illini football and hoops. He always
understood the "big picture." And he, like me -- even
though we knew that there were certainly more important things in
life than the Illini -- was just always so proud of our "men in orange." Maybe
Bill's Illini will finish this season in a special way to
commemorate one of their greatest fans.
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I don't know what's going to happen to me the next time I go into
his bank. I'll probably avoid that for awhile. I drove his
colleagues crazy the last 10-12 years going in there asking them if
Bill was out of his meeting yet so we could discuss "some really
important issues." I may break down totally myself, because that
place won't nearly be the same without him. I always thought of him
as a gentle giant. I guess there will be other bank vice presidents,
because you have to fill slots, BUT there will never be another Bill
Hull; he was one of a kind!
In this day and age when we have a skewed concept of what true
heroes and role models ought to be like, I offer up Bill Hull. If
anyone can be like him, then in my book, they've lived a pretty
successful life. Farewell and Godspeed, my friend!
[Jeff Mayfield]
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[William
Hull obituary] |
