(Editor's note: This is the last in a series of feature profiles on this year's Hall of Fame and Wall of Honor selections that have been posted every Thursday, leading up to this Friday's Hall of Fame banquet.) 
 
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
           
In his 62 years, Mark Hurd had an impact and left a legacy at Baylor University, with the world of tennis and the technology business that will never be forgotten.
           
Hurd, a former Baylor tennis player and CEO of Oracle Corporation who died last month, will be added to the Baylor Athletics Wall of Honor posthumously at Friday's Hall of Fame banquet.
           
"Mark Hurd and his family have served as longtime champions of Baylor Athletics and our vision of Preparing Champions for Life," said Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack B. Rhoades IV. "In addition to his support of facilities like the Hurd Tennis Center, Mark and Paula have gone above and beyond in their generosity to Baylor as "B" Association members and Bear Foundation Championship Club members, and across many areas of Baylor's campus."
           
A native of Manhattan, N.Y., Hurd graduated from Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School in Miami, Fla., in 1975 and came to Baylor on a tennis scholarship. He was a tennis letterman at Baylor, graduating in 1979 with an undergrad degree in business administration.
           
Starting as a junior salesman in San Antonio in 1980, Hurd rose through the ranks and became president and CEO of NCR Corporation in 2002. Taking over as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, which had merged with Compaq, he established the company as the world leader in desk top computer sales.
           
Named as one of the top 25 most powerful people in business by Fortune magazine, he became president of Oracle in 2010 and added the title of CEO four years later.
           
"Mark was my close and irreplaceable friend and trusted colleague," said Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle. "Oracle has lost a brilliant leader and beloved leader who personally touched the lives of so many of us during his decade at Oracle. All of us will miss Mark's keen mind and rare ability to analyze, simplify and solve problems quickly. Some of us will miss his friendship and mentorship. I will miss his kindness and sense of humor."
           
Beyond the business world, Hurd's passion for tennis knew no limits. He upgraded college tennis with a series of tournaments, created an invaluable network of Challenger events that helped aspiring pros, created Oracle's annual $200,000 US Tennis Award and was a huge backer of the game-changing Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system.
           
"He had a day job at Oracle, but his family and tennis were his passions," said Mark Leschly, the founder of UTR. "He gave so much back to college tennis, the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association), UTR, Indian Wells and more recently the entire pro circuit.
           
"Playing and interacting with players was his life. Thankfully, he combined the mission of Oracle with his passion."
           
Meshing his passion for tennis and love of Baylor, Mark and his wife, Paula, gave significant gifts that helped transform the Baylor Tennis Center. In 2009, the Hurds' generosity provided a total renovation of the tennis locker rooms, health training rooms, meeting rooms, coaches' offices, championship lobby and pro shop.
           
And then in 2011, when the overall facility was renamed the Hurd Tennis Center, enhancements included the new scoreboard that allows fans to follow matches on all 12 courts; shaded spectator seating of the Hulse Grandstand that overlook the championship courts; the addition of VIP seating; and a new video streaming system to air Baylor matches on the school's official athletics website.
           
"We are very thankful for the generosity of the Hurd family as they are helping to take our program to even greater heights," women's tennis head coach Joey Scrivano said. "These enhancements will send a powerful message about the commitment to future successes as we recruit the world in search of outstanding student-athletes."
           
Jimmy Bendeck, who earned doubles All-America honors last season and graduated from Baylor in August, said Hurd "changed our lives as tennis players and made our student-athlete experience really positive."
           
"He allowed us to have this amazing facility, all by his support," Bendeck said. "The impact he's had on Baylor University and Baylor Athletics has been incredible."
           
In November 2018, the Hurds gave a lead gift toward the university's $1.1 billion "Give Light" campaign to create the new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center.
           
"As they have on many occasions, Mark and Paula have stepped forward as champions of excellence and as shining lights for the vital role Baylor plays in higher education as a Christian research university," said Baylor President Dr. Linda A. Livingstone.
           
Mark had served on the Baylor Board of Regents since 2014 and was elected Vice Chair of the Board in 2017.
           
"For the past five years, Mark Hurd served tirelessly and selflessly on his alma mater's Board," said current Board chair Jerry Clements. "He genuinely loved and cared for Baylor and contributed his time, strategic leadership and treasure to help achieve Baylor's vision for the future as the preeminent Christian research university. Our board will miss greatly his presence, wisdom and leadership."
           
Mark is survived by his wife, Paula, and daughters, Kelly and Kathryn.
           
"Personally, I am grateful to Mark for being a trusted friend and advisor in recent years," Rhoades said. "In addition to his inspiring legacy, we will continue to remember and celebrate his wonderful heart and love for others."
           
Also added to the Wall of Honor will be former University of Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conradt. This year's Hall of Fame class includes football players John Adickes, Steve Beaird and Robin Jones, former All-Americans Lauren Hagans Paquette from women's track and Ryan Baca from men's golf, softball's Lisa Ferguson Murphy, baseball's Josh Ford and Curtis Jerrells from men's basketball.

The Hall of Fame and Wall of Honor selections will be feted at Friday's 6:30 p.m. banquet in the Brazos Room at the Waco Convention Center and then recognized during Saturday's Baylor-Texas football game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at McLane Stadium.