Robert A. Hall
Encyclopedia
Robert A. Hall, CAE, served five terms in the Massachusetts
State Senate.
that summer. He served four years from 1964 until 1968, including service in Vietnam as a Radio Relay Team Chief at Khe Sanh
in 1967. Hall left the Corps as a Corporal in 1968 to attend college, but rejoined the Marine Reserves while in the Senate, serving from 1977 to 1983 as a radio operator and public information officer. He finally left the Corps in 1983 as a staff sergeant, due to time conflicts with his civilian profession, declining a commission as a Second Lieutenant at that time.
Hall earned an AA degree from Mount Wachusett Community College
in Gardner, MA in 1970, where he served as Student Council President. He received a BA degree in Government from the University of Massachusetts
, where he was on the student senate, in 1972. While serving in the Massachusetts Senate, Hall earned a MEd in History from Fitchburg State College
in 1980, attending in the evening.
elected in what was then the Third Worcester District since 1938. The district comprised the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, and ten area towns. Hall lived in Lunenburg, MA when elected, later moving to Fitchburg.
Hall was re-elected in 1974 by a margin of 10,000 votes, carrying every city and town in the heavily Democratic district. In 1976, he was nominated by both parties, winning the Democratic primary on write-in votes against a Leominster City Councilor. He was unopposed in 1978, and easily won reelection in 1980, winning 78% of the vote against a Democrat from Gardner. Hall was appointed Assistant Minority Whip in 1978 and Minority Whip in 1980. Hall worked with members of both parties, and over 60 pieces of legislation he sponsored became law. He retired undefeated in 1982.
in Madison, WI. AACD is a professional association with 23 staff and 7,800 members in 60 countries.
Hall is active in Scottish activities, has traveled to Scotland
over 20 times, and is co-designer of the Leatherneck
Tartan for US Marines, a registered Scottish tartan
. He met his wife, Bonnie, a computer professional, when she attended a Scottish Country Dance class he was teaching in Tallahassee, FL.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
State Senate.
Background and Military Career
Hall was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1946, graduated from Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ in 1964, and joined the Marine CorpsMarine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
that summer. He served four years from 1964 until 1968, including service in Vietnam as a Radio Relay Team Chief at Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, located 63 km west of Đông Hà.Khe Sanh Combat Base was a United States Marine Corps outpost in South Vietnam used during the Vietnam War. The airstrip was built in September 1962...
in 1967. Hall left the Corps as a Corporal in 1968 to attend college, but rejoined the Marine Reserves while in the Senate, serving from 1977 to 1983 as a radio operator and public information officer. He finally left the Corps in 1983 as a staff sergeant, due to time conflicts with his civilian profession, declining a commission as a Second Lieutenant at that time.
Hall earned an AA degree from Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College is a two-year community college in Gardner, Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
in Gardner, MA in 1970, where he served as Student Council President. He received a BA degree in Government from the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, where he was on the student senate, in 1972. While serving in the Massachusetts Senate, Hall earned a MEd in History from Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg State University, also known as Fitchburg State, is a four-year public institution of higher learning with a compact urban campus, located in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Fitchburg State University has over 3,500 undergraduate and over 1650 graduate/continuing education...
in 1980, attending in the evening.
Political career
He was first elected in 1972, the year he graduated from U-Mass, by a margin of nine votes out of over 60,000 cast. He was the first RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
elected in what was then the Third Worcester District since 1938. The district comprised the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, and ten area towns. Hall lived in Lunenburg, MA when elected, later moving to Fitchburg.
Hall was re-elected in 1974 by a margin of 10,000 votes, carrying every city and town in the heavily Democratic district. In 1976, he was nominated by both parties, winning the Democratic primary on write-in votes against a Leominster City Councilor. He was unopposed in 1978, and easily won reelection in 1980, winning 78% of the vote against a Democrat from Gardner. Hall was appointed Assistant Minority Whip in 1978 and Minority Whip in 1980. Hall worked with members of both parties, and over 60 pieces of legislation he sponsored became law. He retired undefeated in 1982.
Life after politics
After leaving the Senate, Hall entered the profession of association management, serving first as Executive Director of the Florida Psychological Association. He holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives, and has successfully managed several associations. From July 2002 until August 2007, Hall was Executive Director of the American Academy of Cosmetic DentistryAmerican Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry , founded in December 1984 by Dr. Jack Kammer and Dr. Jeff Morley, is the world's largest organization for cosmetic dental professionals....
in Madison, WI. AACD is a professional association with 23 staff and 7,800 members in 60 countries.
Hall is active in Scottish activities, has traveled to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
over 20 times, and is co-designer of the Leatherneck
Leatherneck
Leatherneck is a military slang term for a member of the United States Marine Corps. Now accepted by Webster as a synonym for Marine, the term "Leatherneck" was derived from a leather stock once worn around the neck by both American and British Marines—and soldiers also. Beginning in 1798, "one...
Tartan for US Marines, a registered Scottish tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
. He met his wife, Bonnie, a computer professional, when she attended a Scottish Country Dance class he was teaching in Tallahassee, FL.