By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

Jody Hill, the author of a new book about local football standout Chucky Mullins, signed copies of his work Sept. 19 at the Russellville home football game and talked to fans along with some of those who were Mullins’ family.

“38: the Chucky Mullins Effect” was released Sept. 12 and discusses the relationship and effect that Mullins had on his teammates and other friends and family members after his accident. Mullins was paralyzed from the neck down after shattering four vertebrae in his neck while making a tackle during an Oct. 28, 1989 homecoming game against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The book talks about the year and a half before Mullins passed away and the positive effect he left as a lasting memory.

Hill met and befriended Mullins in 1988 as freshmen at the University of Mississippi. Hill went on to graduate from Ole Miss in 1992 and later earned his Master of Divinity degree from the Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn.

Carver and Karen Phillips, Mullins’ guardians, were in attendance Friday evening and said they were glad to see interest in the book and the story of Mullins.

“It is good to see people still talking about Chucky and everything that happened, and Jody has written a great book,” Carver Phillips said.

Karen Phillips said there is a memorial to Mullins at Ole Miss and that there is now discussion of creating one in Russellville as well.

“It is something we are just now starting to discuss and put into motion,” Karen Phillips said.

“We are also looking at maybe getting the mayor to declare a Chucky Mullins day or something like that, too.”

At the Russellville book signing, $5 of every book purchased will go toward a fund to make the memorial of Mullins in Russellville a reality.