ROBERT HALL

RET. COL. ROBERT "DEKE" HALL His last solo flight-Ret. Col. Robert "Deke" Hall, 80, died Tuesday, December 8, 2009, resting peacefully in his home, of complications due to a spinal injury suffered during a fall in 1996. He leaves his wife of 16 years, Jane Hall: his children, Holly Hall Mayfield and her husband Rick Mayfield, London UK, Sandi Hall McMichael and her husband Bill McMichael, Birmingham, Al, Penny Presson and her husband Bryan Presson, Clinton, MS, Randi Hayslip and his wife Lucy Hayslip, Parkland, Fl. He also leaves behind 8 grandchildren; Brooke and Rob McGibboney, Christy and Haley Mayfield, Timothy Presson and Kristi James, Matt and Nadia Hayslip; one great-grandchild, Cole James, and many close friends. He is predeceased by his wife Sara "Sally" Froman Hall, November 1991 and his son, Robert "Skip" Hall, November 1979. Born and raised in Illinois, the son of a Methodist minister and State Representative Rev. Clarence and Marion Hall, he spent the last 20 years as a resident of Perdido Key, Fl. Col. "Deke" Hall entered the Air Force in 1951 and received his pilot training at Webb AFB, Texas and following flight school he served in the Korean War. Col. Hall graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1958 and by 1961 "The Deacon" was already a veteran of many covert aerial reconnaissance missions as one of the specialized U2 Pilots stationed at Laughlin AFB Texas, Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona and finally Edwards AFB California. In 1967 he moved his family to Taiwan where he was involved with an exclusive CIA Detachment and the Republic of China Air Force's "Black Cat" U2 pilot program. Following Taiwan, he served with the 47TFS at Mac Dill AFB Florida, and then from 1971- 1972 he served as Wing, Vice Commander at Phu Cat AB in Vietnam and Director of Operations, 7/13 AF, Udorn, RTAFB. In 1972, he returned to Maxwell AFB Alabama as Vice Commandant, Squadron Officer School. He finished his career in the USAF as Detachment Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama and as a career role model to many Auburn ROTC graduates. His career awards are many, they include the Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 OLC; Air Medal w/4 OLC; Distinguished Unit Citation; and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Col. Hall was proud of the fact that he held a Bachelor's Degree from University of Illinois "51" where he played basketball as a "Fighting Illini" and a Master of Science in Political Science from Auburn University '70". He spent his retired years with AOPA, flying across the country teaching weekend courses. He especially liked the weather course where he could use examples of his own experiences as a pilot and entertain the group with vivid stories of bail-outs and close landingshe always enjoyed a captive audience. Deke, whose own credits - both as an Air Force Pilot and as a true gentleman, were lengthy and notable, he was one of those rare individuals who combined a love of country with a love of life. His stories live on in the hearts of his children and friends and he made a difference with his life of service to his country and family. The Colonel requested that contributions may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarrriorproject.org or 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 A quiet family service will be held on December 21, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama with a memorial to follow in March in Pensacola, Florida at the Pensacola Naval Station Chapel.