HAL MELTON QUINN

Hal Melton Quinn, 83, passed away at Research Hospital on May 11, 2013. He was born in Gilmer, Texas on November 26, 1929 to Hallie and Joe Thomas Quinn. Hal moved to Dallas, where he graduated from North Dallas High School in 1947. He attended Arlington State College on a football scholarship and received an Associate of Science Degree in 1949. Hal attended Southern Methodist University also on a football scholarship where he proudly played as a Mustang, earned honors as a Southwest Conference All American, and was drafted by the NY Giants in 1951. Hal continue his studies at SMU until he enlisted in the Army in 1952. Stationed in Sendai Japan, Hal served as Captain on his Army football team which was runner up in the Army All Japan Championship in 1953. After his Honorable Discharge in 1954, Hal returned to SMU where he earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in 1955. It was while attending SMU, that he met the love of his life and partner for 57 years, Sally Drew of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute. Hal began his career in 1950 as a car salesman for The Ben Griffin Automotive Company. He left Ben Griffin in 1956, as President and General Manager of the Fleet Leasing Division. Hal then began his seventeen year career with the General Motors Company's Oldsmobile Division where he held numerous management positions. During his time with Oldsmobile, Hal and his family lived in El Paso, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Chicago, IL; East Lansing, MI; Boston, MA and finally in Los Angeles, CA. In 1973, Hal left GM to take a risk on a new company and joined Midwestern Toyota as President. Hal relocated his family once again but this time for good as they settled for the next forty years in Kansas City. Six months after joining Midwestern Toyota, Hal was promoted to President and Vice Chairman of the Board of the parent company, AMCO Industries, one of the largest importers and distributors of foreign cars in the United States. Hal struck out on his own and established Hal Quinn Automotive Headquarters in Independence, MO in 1976 a business that he, along with his sons, Drew and David, managed award winning dealerships including Buick, Honda and G.M.C. trucks until his retirement in 1994. During his eighteen years as a car dealer in Kansas City, Hal also established seven other companies and received numerous awards for excellence in his field. He was an active member of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, where he served as President in 1986; the Motor Car Dealers Association of Kansas City, where he served as President in 1982; and the National Auto Dealers Association where he received the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award in 1986. In the community, Hal served on multiple boards including the American Cancer Society where he received the Bea Johnson Award, the highest award presented to a volunteer by the ACS; was an Elder of the Village Presbyterian Church where he also served as the Chairman of the Budget Committee in 1983 and 1984; the Research Hospital Foundation where he served from 1994 until his passing and was Chairman from 2000 to 2006. In recognition for his exemplary leadership, the Research Foundation created the Hal Quinn Excellence in Nursing Award in 2004. Hal also received the Paul Harris Fellow Award in appreciation of his lifelong contribution to the Rotary Club. At the request of long- time friend and fellow SMU alum, Lamar Hunt, Hal spent ten years as Chairman of The 101 Committee whose annual banquet honors NFL and Kansas City Chief Players and Coaches. Other civic organizations that Hal was active include The American Royal Association as a Governor in 1985; the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in the Society of Fellows from 1980 to 1985; the Independence, MO Economic Development Corporation; and a Board Member of both the Chamber of Commerce of Independence and Greater Kansas City. Most important to Hal was his devotion to his family. He is survived by his wife, Sally; Sons, Drew, David, Douglas, and Daniel; daughters-in- law Becky, Jennifer and Tara; eleven grandchildren, Camile and Caleigh; Sean and Lauren; Taylor and Schuyler; Jacob, Dylan, Harrison, Isabel, Mahlet, Tigist and Johnny; along with his niece Suzanne Hale and nephew, Dan Quinn. Burial services will be private. A Memorial Service will take place at 11:00 am Saturday, May 18, 2013, at The Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS. A reception will be held directly following in Friendship Hall at Village Presbyterian Church. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to The Research Hospital Foundation Nurses Scholarship at 816-276-4218 or at TheResearchFoundationKC.org. M