Memory of ‘purple home’ couple honored in Centre County

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — A memorial bike ride in Centre County accomplished two purposes — providing toys for kids in need and honoring the couple who first started the toy run.

Halos were added to Michael Pilato’s Inspiration Mural on Heister Street in downtown State College Saturday afternoon above the heads of Hal and Natalie Hallock, who were known in the community for their iconic purple home. The couple, who were members of the Centre Line Riders and the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE), died in 2019.

Their son, Bob Hemman, and the Centre Line Riders, organized the annual Purple Ride Toy Run in memory of his parents and to carry on their mission.

Bikes and riders in the fourth annual memorial ride rolled onto Heister Street shortly after the halos were added.

“They passed in 2019 and we’ve been planning on putting the halos over everyone’s head that passed but we never got a date together where we could actually all get together and watch it happen,” Hemman said.

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Everyone who took part in the memorial ride were asked to bring a toy to be donated to the State College Salvation Army.

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