Thomas Wheatley Hall's Obituary
Thomas Wheatley Hall, 90, passed away Thursday morning March 9, 2023 having just celebrated his 90th birthday. Tom was born on March 7, 1933 in Wilmington, Delaware but at the age of 3 months was adopted by Thomas W. Hall and Josephine Helen Hall of Baltimore, Maryland. He is survived by his partner of many years, Lois Golden. Family from his marriage to Gloria Little Hall includes daughter, Jennifer Phelan (Michael), Rebecca Hall (predeceased), grandchildren, Joseph Matthew Clark (Erin), Katherine Hershey, Daniel Hall, and three great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Benjamin and Abigail Hershey. From an earlier marriage to G. Dorothy he is survived by his daughter Linda J. Headley and predeceased by son, Thomas Patrick Hall.
Tom cherished and had fond memories of the time he spent in Korea with Army Aviation during the Korean War. After his stint in the Army, he worked for the Glen L Martin Company, the State of Maryland and his own art studio prior to “enlisting” in the Navy. The Navy was his true love. Tom spent 30+ years working as a civilian with the Navy on behalf of Navy Recruiting. He said “the Army gave me one stripe and the Navy gave me everything.”
As Director of Marketing Communications for the Navy Recruiting Command, Tom was responsible for creating, planning and executing positive publicity in support of recruiting efforts. To do so, he established relationships with leaders in both national and local media. Through his efforts, major feature editorial, publicity and promotion projects were developed and appeared in print and broadcast media. These efforts contributed to enhanced awareness of Navy career opportunities and promoted a favorable Navy image and recruitment climate throughout the United States.
Tom was fondly known throughout the Navy Recruiting Command as "Tom Hall of the Navy" and his rolodex included luminaries like Zach Fischer who brought the USS Intrepid to NYC where it is now the centerpiece of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. To quote Zach, Tom was “the best recruiting man the Navy has ever had. He recruited me into the entire Armed Forces without me knowing it, but loving every bit of it.” Tom was on a first name basis with Hollywood movie star, Robert Mitchum in bringing the mini-series, "Winds of War" to televisions around the world. He also arranged the biggest drag race of all time onboard the USS Ranger, for a race between "Big Daddy" Don Garlits' race car and an F-14 Tomcat Jet Fighter to the delight of drag racing fans everywhere. He did so many amazing projects for the Navy in his legendary career that no one has been able to match what he did in his 30+ years with the Navy.
A private funeral service and interment will be held at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock Maryland.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation or The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
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