From Jerome Murray

As I drove home January 2 from St. George I received some terrible news. That is, one of very best friends' dad ,Mark Hadley, had passed away. After the shock set in I immediately began to think about all the time I had spent with Mark. I have many memories and a lot of jokes, but I chose only to share this one story with all of you. As you know baseball is just about the greatest invention this world had to offer Mark. At least that is my perception of President Hadley. Quinn and I and about all of our childhood friends were on a baseball team. Mark was the coach and I had to be nine or ten years old at the time. Our team was Ok as I remember, but not as good as we would be in the near future. Mark was our coach and spent countless hours teaching us the fundamentals of this game that he so loved. I think that Mark had also just been made the Steak President of our Steak. So one hot afternoon we were at a ball park in Roy and I don't think we were winning this particular game. In fact, I think we were loosing to bunch of kids we should have been whipping. It was my time to bat and I remember that I had not gotten a hit yet this game and I was frustrated about it. So, as I walk up to the plate I saw the third base coach walking toward me. As I waited there I thought to myself that this needed to be a good at-bat for us to have a chance to win this game. Mark stood next to me and said "OK Murr, you haven't got a hit yet this game so this is what I want you to do." He had my full attention. "You swing as hard as you can at the first pitch and then YOU RUN LIKE HELL!" I tried to act calm, but in my mind my coach and my Steak President just swore in front of me for the first time. He said, "Can you do that?" I think that I just shook my head and went back to the plate. So I did what he said. The pitch came and I swung with all I had, put my head down and ran as hard and as fast as I thought I could. I made to first, save. I don't remember if we won the game but one thing I can't and never will forget are those words RUN LIKE HELL! As I think about the days when my kids will play ball that will be one of the many things I take from Mark. I will encourage them to RUN LIKE HELL. THis advice help me to give my best in sports and in my life.I will never forget You Mark. I pray that you family will be strong and find comfort in the things you tried to teach them. You will be missed. Thank you. Coach, President, Boss, Friend.Love,Jerome, Hailee, and Whitlee Murray