Club wrestling at Texas A&M brings back many fond memories for Henry Hulan ’53. He credits coach James W. Griffith for developing the club wrestling program and providing a positive experience for student athletes.
“I hadn’t wrestled prior to coming to Texas A&M. I was looking for a sport and heard about the wrestling team,” Hulan shared. “It was a recreational sport at that time. It gave me the chance to compete while learning something new.”
Hulan highly values the tradition of recreational and sport clubs as a part of the Aggie experience, so he decided to establish the Henry Hulan ’53 Sports Club Fund with a $25,000 gift that will be used to support sports clubs within the Department of Recreational Sports.
“We had a good team with great camaraderie, which is one of my favorite memories from my student years,” Hulan said. “I encourage students to find a club sport that’s right for them. There’s nothing like Aggie football, but there are so many great opportunities there now to compete in a sport of your choice. It was definitely an enhancement to my Texas A&M experience.”
In addition to club wrestling, Hulan was a member of the Corps of Cadets as well as a cornet player in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Drum and Bugle Corps. He fondly recalls his duty as one of the reveille players and playing the wake-up call for fellow cadets.
Through this donation, Hulan expresses his appreciation for the highly respected professional associates who influenced his career through their leadership example. He is especially honored by the steadfast friendship built over time with Dr. Larry W. White, Dundas “Dan” Flaherty, and Dr. James A. Archambeau, colleagues he met when he first began his career. Their leadership and commitment to excellence have profoundly influenced his professional career in sales and marketing.
“I hope this gift will inspire Texas A&M students who are involved in sport clubs to grow into leaders of the future,” Hulan said.
After graduating with a degree in wildlife management, Hulan served in the military for two and a half years stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and met his wife Margaret, who recently passed away.
The Hulans have three children (Brian, Melinda, and Stephen), five grandchildren (Sara, Taylor, Torey, Zachary, and Wyatt), and three great-grandchildren (Lillian, Fiona, and Henry).
Since graduating in 1953, Henry has remained friends with several former classmates, and has shown support for the Sul Ross Group and recently attended the Annual Sul Ross Group Reunion, as well as the RELLIS Reunion honoring The Annex Boys.
The Sul Ross Group is made up of Aggies who attended A&M from the classes that have celebrated 55 years or more since graduation and reunites each year in College Station.
Learn more about giving to the Department of Recreational Sports.
If you have questions, email Megan Pulliam, director of development for Student Affairs at [email protected].