Eugene "Gene" Hall

1930 - 2024

Eugene "Gene" Hall

December 21, 2024

Kansas City, Missouri - Eugene C. Hall, age 94, Kansas City, MO, died on December 21, 2024, at St. Luke's hospital surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m., on December 27, 2024, at Visitation Church, 5141 Main St., Kansas City, MO. A private graveside service will be held for family members only. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, 300 East 39th Street, LL1H, Kansas City, MO. 64111 or The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111.

Mr. Hall was born on July 9, 1930, in Kansas City, MO, where he spent most of his life. He graduated from Southwest High School, Kansas University, and the Law School of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. During Law School, he was elected Justice (President) of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. At Kansas University, he obtained two degrees in the Fine Arts School, one in piano and the other in composition. While at Kansas University, he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and conducted a dance orchestra, which played for campus dances under the name of the "Gene Hall Orchestra".

Following graduation from Kansas University, he served as a lieutenant in the army from 1953 to 1955 in Japan. He also served in the Army Reserve for another 11 years and became a major in the Judge Advocate General Corps. He was an attorney and Assistant Secretary of Hallmark Cards, Inc. from 1958 to 1970. He then joined the Gage and Tucker law firm (now Lathrop GPM), retiring as a senior partner in 1993. Before retiring, he was a member of the Kansas City Bar Association, Lawyers Association of Kansas City, American Society of Hospital Attorneys, the Estate Planning Society of Kansas City, and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. In 2008, he was recognized by the Missouri Bar for 50 years of service as a practicing attorney. He taught a course on health law for 11 years at the Kansas University Regents Center.

Mr. Hall was a founder and past director of Attorneys Liability Assurance Society, a Bermuda-based professional liability insurer for large law firms in the United States. He authored a chapter on taxation of insurance companies published in 1987 by the Missouri Bar in Missouri Taxation Law and Practice, 2nd Edition. He also authored the "Law Column" during 1971-1975 in the Chamber of Commerce monthly publication, The Kansas City Magazine. He was listed in Who's Who in American Law, 2nd Edition.

Mr. Hall was a member of the Advisory Board of St. Mary's Hospital, Kansas, City, MO, and served on two occasions as its President. In 1974, the Sisters of Saint Mary gave him their National Humanitarian Award in St. Louis, MO. He was chairman in 1970 of the Downtown YMCA Board of Managers; chairman later of The Salvation Army Advisory Board; Director and officer of City of Fountains Foundation; member of the Board of Trustees of the Conservatory of Music, and a founding director of the Helen S. Boylan Foundation.

Mr. Hall was a past member of the Vanguard Breakfast Club, Rotary Club of Kansas City, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, the University Club and the Carriage Club.

Following his retirement from the practice of law, he became active again in music, recording a number of piano tapes and becoming the pianist and arranger for the Johnson County Community College Jazz Band, and later the Kansas City, Kansas, Community College Jazz Band.

In 2002, he recorded a compact disc of classical piano music, including one of his own compositions. The net profits from the sale of the same were donated to The Salvation Army. In 2003, he recorded another compact disc containing certain Chopin piano compositions. The net profits from the sale of the same were donated to The Kansas City Symphony. In 2004, Mr. Hall recorded a jazz solo piano compact disc, entitled, "Gene Hall Plays Count Basie." In 2019, he recorded another jazz solo piano compact disc entitled, "Tunes I Remember."

Also in 2003, he co-founded The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation. Mr. Hall was a director and President of the organization. In 2021 he retired from the organization as Founder and Emeritus. The orchestra performs regularly at Helzberg Hall in the Kauffman Performing Arts Center.

Mr. Hall was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia T. Hall; his parents, Elmer and Anne Hall; and his brother, Allan E. Hall.

He is survived by his wife, Linda B. Hall, of the home; four children, Cynthia H. Weber, Catherine L. Hall, Shaun E. McNamara and Susan E. McNamara; and four grandchildren, Haley E. Johnston, Lane E. Johnston, Braden M. Johnston, and Lillie F. Johnston.

Gene and Linda were married for 39 wonderful and loving years. They traveled the world together, enjoyed many great experiences and memories. They loved their 5 o'clock happy hours every Friday. Their 4th of July parties began a tradition from the time they were married and were legendary among their friends. Many wonderful traditions were formed over their marriage and became a backbone of the family.