11-28-2005

Contact: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385

Ohio State mourns loss of "The General"

Bill Hall was vice president for student affairs

William H. "Bill" Hall, vice president for student affairs at The Ohio State University, known for his dedication and devotion to improving the lives of Ohio State students, died yesterday (11/27) after an 11-month battle with cancer. He was 61.

Since joining the university student affairs staff in 1977, Hall played a leadership role in enhancing the campus experience for students. He served as Ohio State's director of residence and dining halls until his appointment as assistant vice president in 1994. In 2001, he was named vice president for student affairs.

In addition to his nearly 30 years of service to Ohio State, Hall had a distinguished military career with the Ohio Army National Guard. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and retired in 1998 with the rank of Brigadier General after 30 years of military service.

His military training and devotion to students defined the man that many knew as "The General." Thousands of undergraduates enjoyed his weekly email column, "Generally Speaking," which offered information, advice and humorous observations on campus life. In January, he told students about his recent cancer diagnosis. He became ill during an Ohio National Guard-sponsored trip to Kosovo over Christmas break last year, where he visited Guard troops and Ohio State students serving in Kosovo.

University President Karen Holbrook said Hall was truly devoted to Ohio State. "Bill was instrumental in so many great initiatives that improved life for students," she said. "His achievements have made this campus a wonderful place to live."

Suz Scharer, president of Undergraduate Student Government, said Hall was a true inspiration for students. "We lost an amazing member of our Buckeye community yesterday, however, his legacy will live on through the hundreds of thousands of students he has touched."


In nominating Hall to deliver the spring 2005 commencement address, Ohio State's student newspaper "The Lantern" noted, "his 28 years of service to Ohio State students makes him the ultimate Buckeye and ideal speaker for spring commencement. He exemplifies what it is to be a Buckeye beyond any celebrity we could draw." Hall was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree at that event.

Hall was the "go to" man in providing direction for major campus events, including multiple visits of presidents, presidential candidates and other VIPs. He also took personal responsibility for insuring the success of the hundreds of student events that are planned each year, and often participated in them. He was known to paint a "Block O" on his shiny bald head, dance with students at their annual "Buckeyethon" fundraiser, visit students door-to-door in the residence halls or in the neighborhoods around campus, or join in when students attempted to create the world's largest pillow fight.

Hall's achievements included reducing the density of housing in residence halls, improving the student move-in process, revising the Code of Student Conduct to give the university more authority over the behavior of students living off-campus, and guiding implementation of a student activity fee to increase recreational and cultural opportunities for students. He also oversaw several major construction projects, including the Recreational and Physical Activity Center, a new student housing complex, and plans for a new Ohio Union.

In September, University Trustees named a new housing complex built under his leadership on south campus—the first new student housing built since the 1960s—the William H. Hall Student Residential Complex, in his honor.

Prior to coming to Ohio State, Hall served as director of housing at Southern Illinois University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education.

Hall is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and two sons, Andrew and Jeffrey.

Plans are underway for a campus-wide memorial service.

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Editor's note: A photo of Hall is available.

View an archived stream of Bill Hall's speech from Spring 2005 Commencement


Contact Amy Murray at (614) 292-8385.