Brother Fred Hall '41, Member of the Big Red One

Lawyer Fred W. Hall, Jr. of Rochester died on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at home.He was born Sept. 22, 1920, in Franklin, N.H., the son of the late Fred W. Hall and Grace R. Canney.

He graduated from Nashua High School (Class Orator) in 1937 and from the University of NH (Class Orator) with a BS in 1941. While at UNH, Fred was a member of Sigma Beta Fraternity, the Debating Team, Masque and Dagger, and Advanced ROTC. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948 and was admitted to the N.H. Bar the same year. While at Michigan he was a member of the Barristers Society and Phi Delta Phi Fraternity. He practiced law in Rochester for sixty years, being a partner at the law firm of Cooper, Hall, Whittum & Shillaber, originally Cooper, Hall, & Cooper.

On December 10, 1941 as a 2nd Lieutenant he reported to the 1st US Infantry Division (the Big Red One) and was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment where he served throughout the war as a Company Officer, Battalion S3 and Regimental S2. Fred participated in eight campaigns and three invasions in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe, including Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944. His decorations include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, French Croix deGerre, Unit decorations and various service medals. He served on active duty during the Korean conflict. He retired in 1966 with the rank of Lt. Col. Fred has written "A Memoir of World War II." In 2012 he was named a Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor, honoring his participation in the liberation of France.

On Sept. 23, 1950, he married Jane Coe Hall and they shared 54 years together before her death on Sept. 28, 2004. They raised three children, Marcella, Susan and John. Together they established the UNH Coe-Hall Fund for Campus Beautification and a Dean's Scholarship Fund.

Fred served as Director of the UNH Alumni Association and was a member and Chair of the UNH Board of Trustees (1966-1973). He received the Alumni Meritorious Service Award and the Alumni Association Profile of Service Award. Hall House, a student dormitory, was named in his honor. In 1974, UNH conferred on him an honorary LLD degree. He was a recipient of the UNH Alumni Pettee Medal and a member of the UNH ROTC Hall of Fame.

Long active in political, educational and banking circles, Fred served as Strafford County and City of Rochester Solicitor, and as a member of the Governor's Council in 1963 to 64. He also served as a Delegate to three Constitutional Conventions.

He was a member of the American Bar Association and the N.H. Bar Association (President). He was a founder and Fellow of the N.H. Bar Foundation and established the Judge William A. Grimes Judicial Excellence Award.

Fred served as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army from N.H. from 1970 to 1978 and is the recipient of the Dept. of the Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

He belonged to the Episcopal Church. He was a charter member of the Rochester Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Rochester Country Club for over fifty years. Fred was named Rochester's Citizen of the Year in 2007 and he was awarded the Daniel Webster Council, Rochester Area, Good Scout Award in 2000.

Fred was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Jane, his sisters, Joan R. McCarter and Constance Hall Scheffer.

He is survived by four children, Marcella Prachyl and husband Allen of Abilene, Texas, Susan Collins of Newfield, Maine, John Hall and wife Renee of Lee, N.H., and Diane Moler of San Diego, Calif.; three grandchildren, Blake McGurty, Max Prachyl and Brett Spurrier; two great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and a dear friend, Ruth Gilbert.

We would like to thank Millie, Tammy, Mary, and Amber for the excellent care they gave Fred and Cornerstone VNA and Hospice which allowed him to remain at home.

SERVICES: Family and friends may visit Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, Rochester N.H.

The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home. Burial will be in the Rochester Cemetery in the spring.

Published in Fosters from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26, 2017