Donald O. Don Hall

Donald O. "Don" Hall November 11, 1926 - July 15, 2014 Donald O. "Don" Hall of Waco passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 19, at Waco Memorial Park with Rev. David Cozart officiating. Visitation will be 5:00 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 18, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Donald was born November 11, 1926, in Waco, Texas, to Earnest and Thelma Hall. He quit Waco High School and volunteered in the U.S. Navy in 1944. In the winter of 1945, he was sent overseas and had combat duty in the Pacific Theater until V-J Day on two fighting ships, where he was blown overboard at Okinawa. He was honorable discharged in the fall of 1946 and entered Baylor University the day after he was discharged. Don graduated from Baylor in 1951 with academic and law degrees. He was awarded Honorary Juris Doctorate degree in 1969 from Baylor. Don loved to be a lawyer. He practiced law with Charles F. Koehne, John Fulbright and Billy Carl Jones for three years. He was elected Judge of the Justice Court for Waco, serving in 1954-1955. He was Assistant District Attorney and First Assistant District Attorney from 19561962. Don participated as a prosecutor in first televised trial known in legal history in 1956. He served as District Attorney, McLennan County from 1963 through 1966. After 1966, he practiced general law in Waco as senior partner in his law firms and owned the downtown office building. In 1991, he sold his office building and ranch, still maintaining his current law license for many years. He was president of Young Lawyers Association; member of American Bar Association, Texas Bar Association and McLennan County Bar Association since 1951; chairman or member of all McLennan County Bar Association committees during his career; president, McLennan County Council on Alcoholism, 1971-1972. He was a Master Mason, Waco Lodge #92, AF&AM, York Rite, Scottish Rite and Shriner since 1955; member, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars since 1946; American Quarter Horse Association since 1953; and a member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church since 1938. Don was a charter member of Delta Theta Phil Law fraternity, Baylor chapter. He was a licensed pilot since 1958. He was admitted to and practiced before the U.S. Supreme Court Washington, D.S., U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals New Orleans, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Magistrate Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, in the Federal Judiciary and the full range of Courts of the State of Texas. He celebrated and lived life to the fullest, each and every day. His motto was "Let the good times roll." After retirement Don said, "Mary Ann was the best secretary he ever had." For many years Don was a supporter of Baylor football and had season tickets on the 50 yard line. He gave each activity he engaged in his full attention and enthusiasm. Don married the love of his life, Mary Ann Morgan on September 1, 1951, and they had two children: daughter, Lisa Don Hall, B.S. degree from Texas A&M Magna Cum Laude, high school teacher Equine Science at McGregor, Texas, and professional rodeo and horse show barrel racer, and son, Brett Clayton Hall, B.A. degree from Baylor University, Vice President of the The American National Bank of Texas. Brett and his wife, Kelly, resided in Longview, Texas Don was a life long sportsman and outdoorsman, golfer, competitive fisherman, expert marksman and competitor in handgun, rifle, shotgun and bow; flying; speed boat racing; motorcycling, hunting dog breeder, trainer, Quarter Horse breeder, trader, trainer and exhibitor; horse and cattle rancher. Memorials may be made to Central Texas Youth Rodeo Association of McGregor or Fuzzy Friends of Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.