The Doug Shull Memorial MHS Cross Country Endowment Fund

Help us build a strong future for the Morton High School Cross Country Program

The Doug Shull Memorial MHS Cross Country Endowment Fund image

His Story, Our Journey: Remembering Doug with Love

This fund was 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.

by Angie Shull (Doug's wife)
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


The MHS Cross Country fund was initially 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. Write "MHS Cross Country Endowment" in the memo line.