Colonel George Robert Hall

1930 - 2014

Col. George Robert Hall (USAF Ret.)

Hattiesburg

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 21, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., at Main Street United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS, for George Robert Hall, age 83, of Hattiesburg, who passed away on February 16, 2014. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 20, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, MS.

A native of Forrest County, George Robert Hall was born on June 18, 1930 in Hattiesburg. He was the son of Stanton Augustus Hall and Ruth Hill Hall. Col. Hall graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1948 and attended the University of Mississippi one year before entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1949. Col. Hall graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Air Force in June 1953.

He earned his pilot wings at Reese AFB, TX. His first assignment was flying T-29s with the Navigator Training Group at James Connally AFB, TX. He then served with the Operations Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Lowry AFB, CO. He was transferred to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa. Then ranked a Captain, Hall began flying combat missions over Vietnam in May 1963 and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam after his RF-101 Voodoo took ground fire while flying a mission on September 27, 1965. He was immediately captured and spent the next 2,695 days (7 ½ years) as a Prisoner of War before being released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After a brief hospitalization and leave, Col. Hall served at Keesler AFB, MS, and then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, AL. In May 1974, he went through refresher pilot training at Randolph AFB, TX, and then served as Deputy Commander of Operations for the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Bergstrom AFB, TX, flying the RF-4C Phantom II. Col. Hall retired from the Air Force on July 31, 1976.

Upon his retirement from the USAF, Col. Hall returned to Hattiesburg where he began his business and civic career. He served as a Vice President at Hattiesburg Coca Cola and President of the Merchants Company. He resumed his love of flying by getting his commercial license, gave private lessons and flew the corporate plane for Hattiesburg Coca Cola. Among his many civic accomplishments he served as Chairman of the United Way, President of the Retired Officers Association, and President of the Veterans Committee. He volunteered at Forrest General Hospital for ten years. Col. Hall was instrumental in raising funds for the Veteran's Memorial Park in downtown Hattiesburg, and in the renaming of a portion of U.S. 11 to Veterans Memorial Drive. He was a recipient of the HUB Award in 1987, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community, commitment to excellence and dedication to public service. In addition, he was named Chair Emeritus of the City of Hattiesburg's Veteran's Committee. In recognition of his service, the cadets of Detachment 432 of the USM AFROTC paid tribute to his self-sacrifice, passion, and dedication to this great nation. The Warrior Room was dedicated to Col. Hall and the squadron was named for him because of his commitment to honor. On September 11, 2011 he was named Hattiesburg's Veteran of the Year. An avid golfer, Col. Hall was Captain of the US Naval Academy golf team, a member of The Mississippi Golfer's Association, and a past president of the Hattiesburg Country Club.

The Hall family wishes to express their extreme appreciation to all of the citizens of Hattiesburg and Forrest County, past and present, who sent their prayers and support for Colonel Hall.

Mr. Hall is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patsy "Pat" Hall of Hattiesburg; two sons, Robert Stanton Hall (Peggy) of Fairhope, AL and Steven Douglas Hall (Kim) of Birmingham, AL; one daughter, Diane Hall Williford (Walter) of Hattiesburg; six grandchildren, George Watson Williford, Gillian Diane Williford, Elena Hall-Konter (Tyler), Stanton Davis Hall, Mary Hannah Hall and Katherine Grace Hall; and one brother, Samuel Henry Hall (Patty) of Hattiesburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Judge Stanton and Ruth Hall.

The family requests that memorials be made to: Main St. United Methodist Church of Hattiesburg, The Veteran's OutReach, 15 Pritchett, Collins, MS 39428, or Forrest General Hospice of Hattiesburg.