Maricopa loses community treasure: Dr. Jim Hull, 1934-2009

Dr. James Reynolds Hull died early Sunday morning at his home in the Province community in Maricopa. He was 74.

Jim Hull arrived in Maricopa three years ago and immediately immersed himself into the community. He was a mayoral candidate in 2008, but dropped out before the election due to health concerns. It was all part of Hull’s grand scheme of life.

“If there is one thing I have learned, it is that there is always something more to learn,” Hull said at the time. “Lifelong learning has been a core central value of mine for decades. I want to continue to inspire others to discover, and nurture their unique giftedness and let me share their ‘Aha’ moments.”

Hull’s son Edward said his father was passionate about life and about family. “He lived a very fulfilling life,” he said. “He loved his children and grandchildren.”

“Dr. Hull was a great citizen of the city of Maricopa,” said InMaricopa.com Publisher Scott Bartle. “He was committed, engaged, proactive and passionate. He did not sit on the sidelines and complain; he got involved in issues that impacted our community and even tried to be part of the solution.”

Gina D’Abella, the executive director of the non-profit Environmental Concerns Organization, shared some common ground with Hull in the time he was in Maricopa. They both were advocates of community sustainability, which would have been a big part of Hull’s mayoral platform had he been elected, D’Abella said.

“He was a student of sustainability,” D’Abella said. “He was excellent at researching an issue and producing a report on it. We didn’t always agree on everything, but his heart was always in the right place, which was making Maricopa a better place. He had so much to offer; it’s so sad that his life was cut short. He will be greatly missed.”

About James Reynolds Hull:

He was born Dec. 2, 1934 in Columbus, Indiana, a son to Harry and Alma Hull; raised by his step-mother Cordelia Hull. Hull attended Columbus High School graduating at age 16. He attended Evansville College and went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force, with a tour in Japan. Dr. Hull retired from Indiana Bell after 30-plus years of service. He obtained a doctoral degree in philosophy from Lexington University in 2003. He was a teacher and mentor at several colleges and universities in Indiana, Kentucky and Arizona. He was a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, volunteer firefighter and EMT.

In Maricopa, Hull served on the board of the Environmental Concerns Organization Inc.; he was a graduate of the first city of Maricopa Citizens Leadership Academy; Arizona Recycling Coalition Legislative Committee; he was founder of SOS Maricopa; and was a member of Maricopa Chamber of Commerce. He had a great passion for his family genealogy and DNA research.

Hull is survived by family members Gary Spence of Maricopa, Lisa and Jon Riggs and Edward Denise Hull of Evansville, Ind., grandchildren Erica and Cody Riggs, Nicholas and Grant Hull.
The family is conducting a private memorial service in Hull’s honor.

File photo