A dedication ceremony for Jerry Moore Field’s stadium lights will take place tomorrow in memory of Tom Hull. Hull was a former Bison baseball catcher who died from a heart attack at age 43. Hull’s family, along with head coach Patrick McGaha and former teammates, donated the lights in September 2017.
McGaha, a former teammate of Hull’s, is the driving force for the dedication project, along with Liz Howell, vice president for Alumni and Parent Relations at Harding. Howell, although she did not know Hull personally, said she is honored to be a part of the project remembering someone who meant so much to the baseball team.
“My hope is that the ceremony honors Tom and his family, showing just how much of an impact he had here at Harding,” Howell said.
A plaque will be placed at Jerry Moore Field, reading, “A four-year Bison baseball letterman as a catcher from 1987-1990, Tom Hull gave his all on and off the field. As husband to Jill; father to Perry, Marshall and Cole; and president of Hull Bros. Inc., Hull dedicated his life in service to God. As a player, Hull was known for his selflessness and commitment to the team, as well as his love for Bison baseball. His dedication earned his All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference honorable mention for three seasons.”
Dave Hull, one of Tom Hull’s older brothers, will be speaking at the ceremony. Family members along with Tom Hull’s children will be in attendance as well.
“When he was born, God broke the mold,” Dave Hull said. “Tom was a true character, it means a lot to our family to have Tom remembered in this way. It’s not like Harding won a national championship or anything like that, he was just a good player. But for Harding to remember him in such a way is so nice for our family and his former teammates.”
In 2011, the Bisons baseball team began giving the Tom Hull Teammate award to the Bison baseball player who displayed positive qualities on and off the field, according to junior pitcher Jackson Ward that won the award in 2017.
“Tom Hull represents the entire program,” Ward said. “Everyone cares for everyone, and it makes me feel like he set that tone for our program when he was in it.”
The dedication will be Saturday, March 31, at 1:40 p.m. at Jerry Moore Field. A game against South East Oklahoma will follow the ceremony.
