SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Willard "Hummy" Hulbert '45'

Willard D. "Hummy" Hulbert was born on April Fools Day 1927, on a farm in Shavertown, New York. Hummy was the youngest of five brothers - George, Archie, Andy, and Johnny - born to Franklin and Tillie Hulbert. The Hulbert family left Shavertown in 1929 and spent time living in Afton and Bainbridge before moving to the Brooklyn section of Sidney on Halloween, 1933. Hummy started kindergarten in Sidney that same year, right in the middle of the Great Depression. Because of a lack of jobs at the time, all of Hummy's brothers joined FDR's Civilian Conservtion Corps (CCC) and left home to serve in New York, Louisiana and Idaho.

Hummy started high school in 1941 and graduated as part of the Class of 1945. He participated in baseball, basketball, football and track while in high school. Because most material goods were being shipped overseas to support the war effort and gasoline was being rationed as well, the war had its effects on sports at home. There was no gas to fuel buses for the teams, so individuals would save their gas stamps to fuel cars to drive players to their games in neighboring towns.

Upon graduation, most of Hummy's classmates joined the Army or Navy. He on the other hand joined the U.S. Marines. Hummy returned to Sidney in 1946 after being discharged and went to work with his brothers in the building trades. He later joined the U.S. Navy in 1949.

Hummy was discharged from the Navy in 1953 and made his home in San Diego. He spent the next 30 years working for Pacific Bell and retired November 30, 1983. Hummy ultimately ended up moving to Midlothian, Virginia to be closer to his adult children who had settled in the East Coast.

Hummy has two daughters - Robin and Kymberly - from his first marriage to wife Reda and one son - Christopher, from his second marriage to wife Susan. He also two grandchildren - Jeremy and Emily Belle.

Here is what his teammates recall about Hummy:
"We were pitted against Bainbridge on Afton's neutral court for the Duration League Basketball championship. Bainbridge had beaten us in our league game by one point - a bitter pill to swallow. Prior to the (championship) game, Coach (Harry DeBloom) told Hummy, 'Do not shoot, fake your shots and pass off to teammates who are cutting to the basket'. Hummy was the key to our offense and opposing teams would often assign their best defender on him. Well, Hummy's play was masterful! No mistakes, deceptive fakes, cool sharp passes. He played his best offensive game without scoring one field goal. We won the game 48-25 and the Duration League trophy."

"It was a pleasure to play sports with Hummy. I went on to coach high school sports for 35 years and never coached a young man with more all around talent than 'Hummy' Hulbert."

"Hummy was an outstanding athlete in four sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. He always did his best and was a good sport win or lose."

"To this day, even with health problems, Hummy is cheerful, outgoing and witty. His trips back to Sidney are highly cherished, and he never fails to contact is old friends and teammates."

Al Bagnall, Fred Smart and Gerry Walker also sent letters on his behalf. Hummy pitched a no-hitter against Bainbridge on May 24, 1944. Less than two weeks later, on June 7, Sidney participated in the Duration League Track Meet in Afton. There, Hummy tied for 3rd place in the high jump. And let's not forget at the start of the year, Sidney's football team went undefeated. Hummy was the team's quarterback and was known for faking passes and running the ball instead.

It is truly inspiring how much of an impact Willard, "Hummy" Hulbert still has in 2004. He is the perfect inductee as we "Honor the Past".