The Doug Shull Memorial MHS Cross Country Endowment Fund
This fund was initially started in June of 2010. The purpose of the Fund shall be to make annual distributions to the District to assist in supporting its Boys and Girls Cross Country programs. The purpose of the Endowment shall be accomplished, by way of illustration and not by limitation, by supporting the purchase of uniforms, equipment; defraying the costs of participating in meets, and/or competitions; providing scholarships for worthy Cross Country runners who are unable to fund their participation in cross Country activities; and other Cross Country activities. In May of 2025, the fund was renamed the “Doug Shull Memorial MHS Cross Country Endowment Fund” through a major gift from Doug’s widow, Angie Shull, and an MCF Board Resolution making the change.
Running Forward: The Unstoppable Spirit of Doug Shull
L to R: Chris Ackerman, Doug Shull, Leigh Ann Ackerman, Angie Shull.
By Chris Ackerman (Lifelong friend of Doug Shull)
Doug Shull was an inspirational lifelong Mortonite who was well known in the community. He enjoyed running and excelled on the Kennel Lake High School cross country course in his freshman and sophomore years, becoming a top harrier across Tazewell County and Central Illinois. A diving accident in the summer of 1973 ended his running career, but it didn’t paralyze his encouraging and motivational attitude.
With the help of a committed and loving family, he applied the determination and tenacity he had as a runner to achieve his first big “post-accident” goal: defying medical predictions and graduating with his Morton High School Class of 1975. A lifelong student and learner, he went on to graduate from the University of Illinois in finance and began a long career at Morton Community Bank as a financial counselor, managing millions of dollars and helping thousands achieve positive financial outcomes. Although he never ran again, he inspired several running friends to push him through various races—from 5Ks to marathons—so he could enjoy being “in the race” and feeling the wind in his face once more. Never losing his sense of humor, he told a journalist after being pushed 26.2 miles through his first LA Marathon, “It was just like back in high school—my friend finished behind me again.”
Doug gave back to the running world in many ways, but his love for cross country led him to start Morton’s first girls’ cross country team, which he coached for several years.
Doug found love in his friend and later wife, Angie. They could often be found dancing at one of the many Idlewood concerts in town or rushing off to watch their son or one of their 3 grandkids playing some sport. Doug never let adversity stop him. “It might slow me down, as I adjust and find another plan, but life’s too short to let it stop me,” he would say. And if you were talking to him today, he’d tell you, “Don’t let adversity stop you either. Enjoy this life, believe God has a purpose for why you are where you are, and keep moving forward every day. Better yet, try to help someone else move forward too—that’s how living is done.”
His Story, Our Journey: Remembering Doug with Love
Angie and Doug Shull dancing.
I may not have been there to see Doug run in his freshman and sophomore years of cross country, but he enjoyed sharing many stories with me.
While we were dating, he would drive to Kennel Lake—a place filled with cherished memories—and try to show me the course using a diagram while sitting in his van. I could see the spark ignite in his eyes as he shared how running had been his way of releasing energy and striving to win the race.
His life plan changed on July 7, 1973—no more running, mowing lawns, or swimming—as he became a C3–C4 level quadriplegic at just 16 years old. With the training of a cross country athlete, Doug applied those same techniques to embrace a “new normal” in a quadriplegic body. He set goals for himself, and he achieved each one. Since his last day on Earth, July 21, 2024, I believe he is now joyfully running marathons on the streets of gold in Heaven, with a smile on his face.
I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Scott Witzig, Executive Director of the Morton Community Foundation; the Morton Community Foundation Board for their approval; MCUSD 709 Assistant Superintendent Joe Sander; and MHS Cross Country Coach Joe Zeller for honoring my husband by renaming the Cross Country Endowment Fund to the Doug Shull Memorial MHS Cross Country Fund. His legacy will continue for many years to come through the future cross country athletes of MHS.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
Thank you,
Angie Shull
Click the button below to read the Craig Hospital Blog Post entitled “Marking 50 Years of Life With a Spinal Cord Injury, written about Doug.
The MHS Cross Country fund was started, in July of 2009, with money earned by the MHS Cross Country team members at a car wash sponsored by JH Car Wash on Detroit Street in Morton. The car wash owner, Mr. Tom Harper offered the use of his car wash at no charge to the team, and also matched the first $1,000 they earned. Donations from customers receiving car washes totalled $1,504. So, the initial seed money to start the fund was $2,504 after the $1,000 match. Grants to the team would begin every year, once the balance of the fund reached at least $10,000.
Parents were then challenged to donate $1 per minute of their runner's personal best (PB) time of the season. So, after the first cross country season, checks started arriving at the MCF in amounts like $16.01, $17.12, and $24.17 based on runners' PB times. Occasionally, parents have donated $10/minute instead of the suggested $1/minute. Then, after 2 cross country seasons had passed, an anonymous couple stopped in the Foundation office and asked how much it would take to get the fund up to the $10,000 needed to begin grantmaking. The couple ended up making a $5,500 donation bringing the fund balance to the $10,000 mark, ensuring that the first grant would be given to the cross country program before their students graduated from MHS. The first grant in the amount of $500 was given to the cross country program in the Spring of 2012.
Grants have been given every year since 2012, and have grown each year. With these grants, the MHS Cross Country program has been able to purchase things like: a pop-up tent used at meets, new warm-ups, a video camera, and Garmin GPS running watches.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund, please click the button below for online donations. Or, you can mail a check to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550.
To make a tax-deductible donation to this endowment fund, you can:
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Donate by check: Make it payable to Morton Community Foundation and mail it to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550. Please write “D. Shull X-Country” on the memo line.
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The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to offer the year-round Matching Gifts Program to support their employees, U.S. retirees and board of directors in their contributions to worthy causes. Eligible Caterpillar participants may request an annual total maximum 1:1 match of $10,000 USD each calendar year to eligible charities to which contributions are tax deductible. The Morton Community Foundation is an eligible charity. So, if you are an eligible Caterpillar participant, you may submit any donations to this fund for an equivalent match, up to your total maximum of $10,000 per year. CLICK HERE to link to the Caterpillar Foundation’s Matching Gift website.