Harry O. Hall

1928 - 2021

July 3, 1928 - May 31, 2021

Dr. Harry O. Hall passed away in Oviedo, Fl. on Memorial Day with his wife and family by his side. Harry was born July 3, 1928 on the family farm in Midland, Ohio, the son of Harry and Florence Hall. Harry and Velma (Miller) were married at Ft. Sill in Lawton, OK. on June 9,1951. They had 3 children: James, Thomas and the late Nancy (Hines); two grandchildren by James and Kathi Hall: the late Emily Hall and Matthew Hall; two great grandchildren by Matthew and Amanda Hall: Conor and Luke Hall.

Upon completing four years of military service during the Korean War as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Artillery, Harry began his chosen profession as a high school mathematics teacher in Dade County, Florida. Motivated by that experience he embarked on a ten-year career at the University of Miami (Florida) where his first assignment was as an assistant to the Dean, College of Education. Harry continued his graduate studies and received his Doctor of Education from the University of Florida, returning back to University of Miami (Florida) in 1961 as a teaching faculty member serving as Supervisor of Secondary Student Teaching, Director of the South Florida School Desegregation Center and lastly as the University of Miami representative for the Southeastern Education Laboratory.

In 1967, a year before the first students arrived, Dr. Hall was selected as a charter faculty member and administrator of the newly established Florida Technological University (FTU), which was later renamed the University of Central Florida (UCF). His first work was to draft the original operating plan and format for the College of Education's undergraduate program. As founding chairman his work included recruiting faculty, working with county supervisors within the University's service areas and establishing the academic majors among the various College departments. He remained active in all developmental phases including the creation of masters and doctoral degree programs, obtaining program accreditation, and successfully pursuing and implementing contracts and grants to improve the quality of teacher education programs.

Thirty years of productive service were capped with five years of phased teaching and retirement, during which time he pursued his favorite work: supervising student teachers in Central Florida's public schools. In 1998, Dr. Hall was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus, University of Central Florida, in recognition of his distinguished service to the University and his many contributions to improving education within the State of Florida.