By Joshua Parrott /
Reporter-News Staff Writer
April 19, 2004
Longtime McMurry University
athletic trainer Bill ''Doc'' Hadley, 53, died early
Sunday in the hospice care unit at Hendrick Medical
Center.
Hadley, who earlier this year had been found to have
melanoma, served as a trainer at McMurry for more than 20
years.
The funeral is at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Family
Catholic Church.
Bev Ball, an Abilene public schoolteacher and coach for
48 years before taking over as McMurry swimming coach in
1999, has the office next to the McMurry training room and
worked with Hadley's wife, Colleen, who is a teacher at
Abilene High School. Ball said Hadley ''helped her feel at
home'' when she arrived at McMurry.
Ball said everyone, including Hadley, was caught by
surprise that he had cancer. She said Hadley first went to
the hospital earlier this year thinking he had the flu.
''He was a specimen of good health,'' Ball said. ''He
rode his bicycle every day, and if anyone was ever in good
physical health, he was. He was a fantastic guy. It's been
a low blow to all of us out in the gyms.
''He took care of our kids and their aches and pains.
We had no idea he had aches and pains, too.''
McMurry men's basketball coach, Ron Holmes, said his 15
years of working with Hadley makes his passing all the
more tough.
Hadley, who traveled with the team, roomed with Holmes
on the road and operated the shot clock during McMurry
home basketball games.
''It's difficult personally,'' said Holmes, who
graduated from McMurry in 1977 and has served as head
coach since 1990. ''... If God weren't in control, it
would be even more difficult. Lord have mercy, we had some
great times together.''
Holmes cited Hadley's ability to keep everything in
perspective for himself and those around him, both on and
off the court.
''He would always ground you,'' Holmes said. ''After
you lose a game, he would go about his work whether you
won or lost. He served people and served me going on 15
seasons. Doc was a leader. ...''
