Pres Mull

Presnell Alfonzo "Pres" Mull[n1] (August 28, 1922 – June 30, 2005) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Appalachian State Teachers College—now known as Appalachian State University—for one season in 1951 and at Catawba College from 1959 to 1961, compiling a career college football record of 13–26–1.[2]

Pres Mull
Mull pictured in The Rhododendron 1952, Appalachian State yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1922-08-28)August 28, 1922
Marion, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedJune 30, 2005(2005-06-30) (aged 82)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
1946Appalachian State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1951Appalachian State
1954–1958Lexington HS (NC)
1959–1961Catawba
1962–1973Lexington HS (NC)
Head coaching record
Overall13–26–1 (college)
121–56–8 (high school)[1]

Biography

Mull was born in Marion, North Carolina in 1922 to Horace and Estelle (Houck) Mull.[3] He graduated from Pleasant Garden High School where he played basketball.[4] Mull graduated from Appalachian State Teacher's College in 1947, after having served as a reconnaissance pilot in World War II.[5] Mull served as head football coach for multiple local high schools before getting the position at Appalachian State University in 1951 when incumbent coach E. C. Duggins left to do navy service.[3] He also served as assistant football coach at the University for multiple seasons, along with teaching science courses.[5]

Mull moved to Lexington, North Carolina in 1954 after his application for head football coach at Lexington High School was successful. His team, the Yellow Jackets went 9–1 in its first season, greatly improving over previous seasons. Mull also coached at Catawba College from 1959 to 1961, but later returned to Lexington where he continued coaching until 1973.[3][6] He coached in the North Carolina High Schools All-Star game in 1971.[7] He was also a longtime science teacher and athletic director at the school.[8] He retired in 1984 and lived in Lexington up until 2004, when he moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[3][5]

Mull was honored by being named one of the inaugural members of the Distinguished Alumni of Appalachian State University along with inductions into the state of North Carolina, Davidson County and North Carolina Athletic Association Athletic Halls of Fame.[1][5] Mull also served 11 years on the Lexington Planning and Zoning Board, being appointed in 1972 and resigning in 1986.[9]

Mull died in 2005 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill hospital after a brief illness.[10] He was married to Elsie Spratt for 60 years at his death. He had four daughters, one which predeceased him.[5] His wife, Elsie died shortly after him, on July 24, 2005.[11] Mull was described in multiple articles as a "legend"[3][6] and someone "[that] you would not hear anyone bad about" that was a "gentleman's gentleman on and off the field".[6] He was a member of the United Methodist Church.[12]

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Appalachian State Mountaineers (North State Conference) (1951)
1951 Appalachian State 6–33–34th
Appalachian State: 6–33–3
Catawba Indians (North State Conference / Carolinas Conference) (1959–1961)
1959 Catawba 2–7–12–45th
1960 Catawba 2–92–4T–4th
1961 Catawba 3–73–4T–5th
Catawba: 7–23–17–12
Total:13–26–1

Notes
  • ^[n1] Name also given as "Preston"[13] and "Press"[14]

References
  1. Wehrle, Bruce (September 17, 2003). "Pres Mull keeps walking into halls of fame". The Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  2. Mike Flynn, ed. (2009). "History and Traditions: All-Time Coaching Records". Appalachian Football 2009 Media Guide (PDF). Appalachian Sports Information. p. 184.
  3. Caldwell, Neill (June 4, 1984). "Mull: A Living Legend". The Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  4. "Presnell Mull Named As Head Coach Here". The-Dispatch.com. May 8, 1954. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  5. The Salisbury Post. "The Salisbury Post - Pres Mull". Archive.salisburypost.com. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  6. Caldwell, Neill (June 4, 1984). "'A Special Person In A Special Time'". The Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  7. "Special Honor Set For Coach Mull". The Dispatch. November 27, 1971. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  8. "Presnell Mull Returning to Lexington as Football Coach". The Dispatch. December 14, 1961. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  9. Earley, Lynn (January 1, 1986). "Mull Steps Down From Planning Board". The Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  10. "Pres Mull – Obituary". The-Dispatch.com. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  11. "Elsie Mull – Obituary". The-Dispatch.com. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  12. McCrary, Joe (Scoop) (July 14, 1971). "On the Ball". The Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  13. "Appalachian State University - Rhododendron Yearbook (Boone, NC), Class of 1943, Page 34". E-yearbook.com. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  14. Appalachian State University. "Appalachian State Mountaineers Media Guide: History & Traditions" (PDF). Retrieved January 20, 2012.
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