Richard L. Hull

DANVERS — Richard L. Hull, 83, formerly of Manchester-by-the-Sea, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008 at Salem Hospital.

Born in Muskogee, Okla., he was the son of the late Joseph L. and Lucille (Kilpatrick) Hull. He grew up in Tulsa, Okla. and was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member and 2-year president of his Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.

In 1943 at the age of 19 he was called into the U.S. Army where he served for three years during World War II. He also served for two years (1951-1953) in the Korean War where he fought on the front line of the combat zone as a Battery Commander and received a battlefield promotion to Captain.

Mr. Hull earned his law degree from the University of Oklahoma and practiced in a Tulsa law firm where he was invited in 1956 to become the firm's youngest partner.

In 1961 he came to Boston to attend the Harvard Business School. Upon graduation in 1963 he went to work at Houghton Mifflin in Boston as the Manager of Legal and Administrative Services. Following this, he joined Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis Inc. as vice president of Corporate Finance.

Later he formed R.L. Hull and Co., Inc., a consulting and management firm. From 1984-1994 he was President of Big Sandy Management Company, the managing General Partner of Big Sand Company, L.P. In 1993 he received a master's of Social Work from Boston University and went to work as a counselor at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester, until his retirement several years later.

Mr. Hull served as Executive Vice-President of the National Council of Coal Lessors, which made him an honorary Director at his retirement. Dick was also Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in 1981. He had been a Director and Treasurer of Parents and Children's Services in Boston from 1972-1981 and was Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Colonial Gas Company since 1972. He was also Director of a Research Society For Process-Oriented Psychology since 1987.

Locally, Dick was a member of the Vestry at St. John's Church, Beverly Farms, from 1981-1984, a member of the Town Government Study Committee, Manchester by the Sea, MA in 1970, Chairman of the Town Charter Committee, Manchester-by-the-Sea, in 1971, a member and Chairman of the Town Finance Committee, Manchester-by-the-Sea, from 1976-1982 and a member of the Helmsmen Men's Chorus from 1964-1984.

Dick enjoyed hiking, camping, tennis, skiing, sailing, singing, walking, and reading. He was a very caring and loving father and grandfather.

Surviving him is a daughter, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Hull) Powers and husband Caleb of Hamilton; a granddaughter, Hannah Lucille Powers, his former wife, Mary (Gavin) Hull of Manchester-by-the-Sea, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Joseph L. Hill Jr., and a sister, Alyce Lucille Hull Edniger.

ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Beverly Farms, on Friday at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Manchester-by-the-Sea. Visiting hours are on Thursday, at the Campbell-Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly (North Beverly Location), from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.