Longtime Urbana coach thrilled with induction

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 11:21 PM Saturday, January 9, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Al Fulk said it was quite an honor to be inducted into the Springfield Clark County Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 9, alongside the likes of Harvey Haddix and Brooks Lawrence. However, no honor can match the simple pleasure he takes in being called “coach” by his former players.

“That’s probably the topper,” Fulk said.

Fulk, 51, now coaches at Clark State Community College, and for 30 years, he has coached the Armoloy summer team. Prior to taking over Clark State, he coached from 1985-2003 at Urbana University, posting a 352-355 record. Five Urbana players signed pro contracts during his tenure.

Fulk didn’t want to admit it in front of a room full of baseball guys at the UAW Local 402 Hall, but he called himself a football guy.

“That was my true love,”said Fulk, a 1977 Northeastern graduate. “I knew I couldn’t coach football, because I’m a little bit psycho. I had to go to a calmer sport. Football’s a team sport. I sort of carried that over into all my coaching. I never put one player on a pedestal. We didn’t have superstars.”

The other inductees were:

Bob Davis: He coached the Tecumseh High School baseball team for 20 years. His last year was 1975, and the high school baseball field is now named after Davis, 85.

Rick Rogers: A 1968 Tecumseh graduate, Rogers played shortstop for Davis and was drafted in the third round by the Washington Senators after graduation. He played five years in the minor leagues, advancing as far as Triple-A.

“It’s really an honor,” said Rogers, 59, who lives in Springfield. “It’s very special for me, because my high school is also being inducted. That makes it very special. He was the best coach I ever had.”

Bob Timmons: A youth baseball coach for more than four decades, Timmons, 65, has impacted the lives of countless kids, including future professional players Rick White and Tim Glass.

“It’s a high honor,” said Timmons, a 1962 graduate of South High School. “I coached for 42 years, and I never thought I’d be here.”

Two teams: Also inducted were the 1943 Springfield High School team, a state runner-up, and the 2002 Springfield Giants squad, the National Amateur Baseball Federation Major Division national champions.

Fulk

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This is a great class of inductees. Graduating from Tecumseh High School myself in 1983, Bob Davis is legendary in Arrow baseball. I played 1 year for Bob Timmons in summer ball and I can say that you will find very few people that love the kids as much as Bob Timmons. Rick Rogers is as classy as it gets. I had the honor of coaching his son, R.J., and their whole family exudes class. Al Fulk is as legendary as Bob Pyle in Springfield baseball circles. I am blessed to have for both.

Greg Eaton
10:17 AM, 8/12/2010

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