With a heavy heart I’m sharing that former Rice Owl, Courtney Hall, died unexpectedly Thursday, apparently of a heart condition.
Graduating from high school as a National Merit semifinalist at age 16, Courtney was an all-conference center at Rice (starting every one of Rice’s 44 games during his four years). Drafted into the NFL at age 19, Courtney was an All-Pro center for the San Diego Chargers while completing his Rice degree in 1990 and captaining them to Super Bowl XXIX (the 1994 season).
Since his playing days he had an illustrious career in finance and public service. While serving on the Association of Rice Alumni board of directors (where I first met him) he earned a joint JD/MBA from U Chicago and was recently named to Rice Board of Trustees. Like me, he married way, way up and, although he built a sizeable family of his own, I would say that he saw every classmate, teammate, business partner, or other human as a family member. Someone of his prominence always had many people asking for something but I never once saw him refuse to lend a helping hand to a fellow in need.
I was proud to call Courtney a friend and mentor and I will always call him an inspiration. If you didn’t have the great fortune to know Courtney, please take a moment to read the articles below (hat tip to former ARA board member, George Webb, for curating them). You will see what an extraordinary life he led and that the impact of his legacy will endure long after he has left this mortal world. We have lost a true titan, but, after all, Rice fight never dies.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Courtney-Hall-former-Chargers-Rice-football-16142165.php
http://www.hillcrestvp.com/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Hall
https://riceowls.com/news/2020/5/2/football-rice-memories-courtney-hall.aspx
https://nflpa.com/posts/catching-up-with-former-reps-courtney-hall
http://nfl-pe-stage.azurewebsites.net/next/articles/courtney-hall-watn/
https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5247/how-former-san-diego-chargers-lineman-courtney-hall-used-his-intellect-on-and-off-the-field