Tully Gymnasium

Summary

The Bobby Tully Gymnasium (in full Lucy McDaniel Court at Robert Tully Gym) is a 2,500 seat multi-purpose arena at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida that serves as the home for the Lady Seminoles volleyball team and offices of the student recreation department. A million-dollar donation in the late 1990s paid for a renovation that included lighting, armchair seating (which reduced capacity) and gymnasium flooring. In November 2000 the facility was renamed to honor Lucy McDaniel.

Lucy McDaniel Court at Robert Tully Gym
Tully Gymnasium
Map
OwnerFlorida State University
OperatorFlorida State Athletics
Capacity2,500
Opened1956
Tenants
Florida State Seminoles volleyball (NCAA)

History edit

Teams edit

The building was constructed and opened in 1956[1] as the venue for Men's basketball and gymnastics, followed by women's basketball. At the time, a gym with 4,200 bleacher-style seats was considered large. The women’s volleyball team began competing in 1973[1] and the gym was referred to as "Tiny Tully".[2] When the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center opened in 1981, men's basketball moved there,[3] followed by women's basketball in 1995.

Namesake edit

The gym was named for Robert Henry Tully. At 24, he was the first FSU varsity athlete to pass away. Bobby was a World War II veteran who played football, was an Alpha Tau Omega brother and member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Gold Key societies. He graduated in 1952 and died in 1954 after a lingering illness.[4] His brother Jim was a real estate agent who helped found Capital Regional Medical Center; older brother Jack was the 1947 captain of FSU's first football team. His mother Winnie was the first juvenile officer in Leon County from 1942-1971.[4]

Other uses edit

The arena played host to the Rolling Thunder Revue Tour on April 27, 1976, headed by Bob Dylan.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Tully Gymnasium". Seminoles.com. Florida State University. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ Koslow, J. "FSU SPORTING VENUES WALKING TOUR" (PDF). Fsu.edu. Florida State University. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2011-07-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ a b Ensley, Gerald. "Jim Tully spearheaded Tallahassee's second hospital". Tallahassee.com. Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

External links edit

  • Venue information

30°26′33″N 84°18′07″W / 30.442538°N 84.302053°W / 30.442538; -84.302053