JACKSON — Greenwood’s Kent Hull is gone but certainly not forgotten.
More than 400 friends and family turned out for the Kent Hull Tribute Banquet to make sure he will always be remembered through the newly formed Hull Trophy.
The three-time NFL Pro Bowl center died Oct. 18, 2011, at age 50. The money raised from the event will fund the award, which will be given each year to the top collegiate offensive lineman in Mississippi during the C-Spire Conerly Trophy Banquet.
Demand for seating at the banquet was so high that it had to switch venues. Originally scheduled for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which has a seating capacity of 240, the event moved to the Jackson Hilton to accommodate ticket requests.
“It was just amazing how many people came out to support this award. It just shows you how much Kent meant to so many people,” said Kay Hull, Kent’s widow.
Greenwood farmer Craig Brown, a close friend and former business partner of Hull’s, was impressed with the large number of people from Greenwood who came for the fundraiser.
“It really blows my mind how much people thought of Kent,” he said.
Hull started his football career at Greenwood High School and was then a four-year starter at center at Mississippi State from 1979-1982. Glen Young, his former teammate at GHS and MSU, was thrilled to be on hand Tuesday for the poignant and sometimes emotional tribute.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” said Young, now a professor at MSU. “What a great tribute to a great guy.”
Hull left MSU for the USFL and then played 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He played in four consecutive Super Bowls and in 2002 was named on Ralph Wilson Stadium’s Wall of Fame.
Tuesday’s ceremony included the unveiling of the foot-high sculpture, from which the bronzed trophy will be cast, of Hull in his Buffalo gear ready to snap a football. There were also speeches by former teammates Jim Kelly (Buffalo) and John Bond (MSU). Both entertained the crowd with amusing stories and quite touching ones, too.
There was a video message from former Buffalo coach Marv Levy, who couldn’t attend because he was on a trip to Ireland with his wife, and a video of Hull’s acceptance speech for the Bills’ Wall of Fame.
“It was really emotional and moving to hear Kent’s voice on that video, but I am so glad everyone there got to see it,” said Kay Hull. “John Bond and Jim Kelly were just awesome speakers. I truly appreciate them being there.”
Even before being diagnosed with jaw cancer in early June, Kelly agreed to deliver the event’s keynote address. It wasn’t just because of what Hull did for the quarterback in their pro careers, “but what he also meant to me in my spiritual life and also as a friend,” Kelly said.
“There’s only one Kent Hull, and even if I was in my bed, I’d make it out of my bed to make it here cause he was my best friend,” said the Pro Football Hall of Fame member. “I never met anyone as tough as that guy. Unbelievable. He was intelligent. He knew the game of football. He knew what it took to be the best, and he was the best.”
Bond called Hull a big guy with a big heart and said he never let his fame or success change him.
“He was the same at 18 until he was 50,” Bond said. “He was the same exact person. He was a calm guy, a funny guy, a great guy to be around.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory than with this award because Kent was the best offensive lineman I ever played with.”
Gov. Phil Bryant also spoke, centering his message around what Hull meant to so many people off the field in his volunteer work for the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson and his other charitable giving.
“The Kent Hull I remember was standing by the bed of a young child who wasn’t supposed to live much longer,” Bryant said. “He never sought anything for himself; he just wanted to help others.”
• Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
