Philosophy professor and ethics collaborator Richard Thompson Hull died on March 15, 2021, in Tallahassee, Florida, after several years of health problems.

Born December 29, 1939, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Hull served in the U.S. Army after high school for six months and then served in the Army Reserve for six years before attending undergraduate college in Texas, where he met his wife, Elaine. After graduation, they both went to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, to earn their respective PhDs. Richard received his in philosophy while Elaine received hers in psychology. They were both offered positions at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1967. Hull taught there until 1997, when he retired as emeritus professor. The Hulls moved to Florida upon their retirement. Richard served as visiting professor at multiple universities across the United States after his retirement from the University at Buffalo.

Richard Hull wrote many articles on philosophy and medical ethics over the years for many publications, including Free Inquiry. His book Ethical Issues in the New Reproductive Technologies was originally published in 1990 and has since had multiple editions. His research articles appeared in The Hastings Center Report, The Journal of Value Inquiry, and the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy.

Hull served as scholar-in-residence at Buffalo General Hospital from 1995–1996 as well as on various hospital ethics committees in the Western New York area throughout the years. He took a two-year hiatus from teaching to be the headmaster of Calasanctius Preparatory School in Buffalo. His work there kept the school open and prevented its going bankrupt at the time.

Hull was the director of development for the Center of Inquiry (CFI) from 2002–2004. He founded the CFI Tallahassee branch in 2005 and served as one of its leaders until his death. In the mid-2000s, Richard and Elaine were the local co-plaintiffs in Council for Secular Humanism v. McNeil, a long-running lawsuit that challenged the state of Florida’s provision of taxpayer funds for two religious organizations.

Richard Hull leaves behind his wife, Elaine, and many friends. He was predeceased by his son, Geoffrey, in 1987. The entire CFI family extends condolences to Richard Hull’s loved ones.