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No Wonder He's A Fan Of Musician

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By STEVE OTTO

sotto@tampatrib.com

Published: February 27, 2009

It was a good show, and last night he had his face right up against the TV screen, not wanting to miss anything.

The program on PBS was a tape of Wednesday night's Gershwin Prize presentation at the White House, which this year went to singer Stevie Wonder. The prize, given by the Library of Congress, was presented by President Barack Obama in the East Room.

The man with his nose literally up to the television screen would seem an unlikely fan of the singer. Ted Hull is 70, almost blind and a white guy from Michigan now living in South Tampa. Four years ago he retired from his job as director of the state's Division of Blind Services in Tampa.

The connection goes back to 1963, when Hull was a new college grad from Michigan State and teaching visually impaired students. His own vision was about 20-200.

Meanwhile, in Detroit, little Stevie Wonder already had a No. 1 single, but the 13-year-old was struggling with his studies.

Hired as a mentor and teacher, Hull found himself traveling around the world with his young charge. In a still-segregated America, Hull stood out in the largely black entourage.

It gave Hull a chance to write music, with a few songs ending up on the flip sides of Wonder's hits.

They stayed together until 1968, when Wonder graduated from high school. In 1989, Hull came to Tampa to take over the Division of Blind Services.

"I was a little disappointed Stevie didn't invite me to the ceremony," Hull says, "but I still remember it as a special time."

A few years ago he put down his experiences in a book, "The Wonder Years: My Life and Times with Stevie Wonder," which he co-authored with Paula Stahel.

Hull also offered some advice about my upcoming game of Beepball against the Lighthouse for the Blind, an annual contest where sighted players wear blindfolds and try to hit a beeping ball. Noting that the team of celebrities I have coached has lost 21 years in a row, he said we never would beat the Lighthouse squad.

I'm not going to give away any secrets, but he agreed to play on my squad in this year's game in May. More to come on that one.

The Exploding Buc

Following this week's doings, in which some of the biggest names to play for the Buccaneers were summarily ordered to walk the plank, I have a suggestion for Tampa's famous landmark, The Exploding Chicken.

Maybe, at least for the upcoming season, the great sculpture could be painted red and pewter and renamed "The Exploding Buccaneer."

Saturday Snail Mail

It seems as if the post office is going to end up cutting one more day of mail service. Editorials, including one in Mother Trib, are debating whether Monday or Tuesday would be better. I say cut Saturday delivery. That's the day we always seem to get bills at our house that are wrong and there is nobody working in any office to complain to. At least on Mondays there would be somebody to call, even if it doesn't help.

Your Choice

Finally, this column is here to help you with matters of taste (no beans in your chili), but on this first weekend of Plant City's strawberry festival, the annual issue of biscuit versus cake is one you are going to have to decide.

I'm a biscuit person, but it is up to you.

Keyword: Otto Graphs, for more of Steve Otto's musings.

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