Ole Miss baseball Coach Mike Bianco (right) gives a few tips to Henry Ullrich, better known as ‘Super Henry,’ before the Illinois native throws out the first pitch for the April 27 Ole Miss-Texas A&M baseball game at Swayze Field. The University of Mississippi has created an endowment in Henry’s honor to help student-athletes. Photo by Josh McCoy/Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. – For three years, 9-year-old Henry Ullrich, an Illinois native, has been an Ole Miss athletics super fan.
Unlike a lot of children who are born into Ole Miss fandom, it was the Rebel student-athletes – specifically, Ole Miss baseball players – who captured Henry’s attention three years ago, nine months after he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a deadly illness.
One year later, he was hanging out in the dugout before a game with the entire Ole Miss baseball team, and that was just the beginning. From there, Ole Miss student-athletes across every sport developed a special, lasting relationship with the boy everyone calls Super Henry.
It’s fitting, then, that a new endowment established in his name at the University of Mississippi goes directly to help the student-athletes he loves and who love him in return. The endowed funds will be held permanently, with the annual income directed to supply sports nutrition at fueling stations throughout the athletics department.
“Super Henry epitomizes what it means to be a Rebel,” said Ross Bjork, Ole Miss vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics. “When others told him he should take it easy, he has lived life to the fullest.
“When they said he may be limited, he said he would try anyway. Henry’s spirit and positive attitude are unmatched, and we are thrilled to launch the Super Henry Endowment Fund. His legacy as an Ole Miss fan will live on forever.”
Henry Ullrich hangs out in the Rebel dugout April 27 before the Ole Miss-Texas A&M baseball game at Swayze Field. Photo by Josh McCoy/Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Henry and his family traveled to Oxford the weekend of April 27 to watch his beloved Rebels take on sixth-ranked Texas A&M. Henry and his family took the field before Saturday’s game for Henry to throw out the opening pitch. While on the field, Bjork announced the fund via a video message played on the digital scoreboard.
Super Henry proved to be the Rebels’ good luck charm, and they went on to sweep the weekend series.
Henry’s parents, Jeffrey and Lauren Ullrich, said they were moved by the gesture to honor Henry in such a public way.
“We are so grateful to have been wholeheartedly embraced by the Ole Miss community,” Lauren Ullrich said. “It is hard to put into words how much your kindness, support and love have meant to us.
“Henry had a blast throwing out the first pitch at Swayze on Saturday, but what he loved most of all was that he got to do it at Swayze, surrounded by his Ole Miss family.”
Jeffrey Ullrich said it’s entirely appropriate that the endowment in Henry’s name goes to keep Ole Miss student-athletes healthy.
“The establishment of the endowment is truly moving,” he said. “The Ole Miss community is incredible. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community that has been so supportive of Henry to contribute to the well-being of the Ole Miss student-athletes, who are all so special to Henry.”
Anyone may contribute to the endowment through the university’s crowdfunding page, Ignite Ole Miss. Visit https://ignite.olemiss.edu/project/15555 to read Henry’s story and/or make a contribution. For more information, contact Michael Thompson at mtjr@olemiss.edu or 662-915-8803.