H. “Tubby” Hall was born March 8, 1921, in Pickens County, Alabama. He was the son of Robert Lee and Oren Lee Hall. He received his elementary and secondary education in the public schools of Greene and Tuscaloosa Counties and graduated from the University of Alabama. He served in Europe during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He is married to the former Erna Davis (Little Bit) and the father of two daughters, Beth Shaw of Phoenix, Arizona, and Anne Landon of Tempe, Arizona. They have four grandchildren, Heather, Corey, Blake and Paige Landon.
Tubby came to Opp in 1948 to begin a career as a teacher and high school coach at Opp High School. He taught school and coached until he was called back into the Army in 1950 to serve during the Korean Conflict. When he returned from service, he entered the business field.
In 1953, Tubby resigned his job with Opp City Schools and joined Henry Morgan in the tire business. He helped develop the Opp stores into a chain of some two dozen stores in four southeastern states. He served as president of Auto-Sav, Inc. of Opp with the responsibility for retreading in that organization. He was one of the pioneers of the American Retreading Association headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. He was affiliated with ARA for over 30 years. He served as president, started the Historical Committee, and with others, published the first HISTORY OF RETREADING. He organized the “Hall of Fame” among retreaders.
Tubby did not remain in teaching and education, but his love and concern for young people never waned. Although he made his living in the business world, he has spent his life teaching, coaching and working with young people on a volunteer basis. Tubby helped organize Little League Baseball in 1953 and has coached every year since, this being the 44th season. Many young men in Opp will attest to the fact that “Coach Hall” taught much more than the fundamentals of baseball. In a society where so much emphasis is placed on winning, Tubby’s emphasis was, and is, on helping the young man build character. The confidence, self-esteem and personal pride that Coach Hall instills in young boys is carried throughout life.
Tubby became a member of the local Lions Club in 1949, and outside the Korean War years, has perfect attendance. He held every position in the local Lions Club and was voted the first “Lion of the Year” in 1978. He has been an active participant in the Alabama Lion’s Sight Conservation Program since 1970, serving as treasurer, Eye Bank Chairman, Chairman East-West Baseball Fundraising, President of Alabama Lion’s Sight Conservation, and now serving on the Board of Directors. In Lionism, he worked on district and state levels and is a Melvin Jones Fellow. He continues to serve on the State Historical Committee of Alabama Lions.
Always interested in education, Tubby served on the Covington County School Board for 15 years, serving several years as Chairman of the Board. He implemented programs to stress academics and personally funded the “Academic Letter Program.” He was an active participant in the Alabama Association of School Boards, serving on many state committees and serving as instructor for state meetings. He was recognized in 1993 for distinguished service as a School Board Member of Alabama’s first “All State School Board.”
Tubby has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church since 1948. He has held practically every lay position in his church. He has been a member of the adult choir for over 40 years, has taught Sunday School for over 40 years, and since 1970 he has also taught Sunday School lessons via radio and TV-6.
Tubby’s other areas of service include President of the Opp Chamber of Commerce, President of Opp PTA, President Covington County Board of Education, member of the Advisory Committee of Douglas MacArthur Technical College, President Mizell Memorial Auxiliary. In 1993, he was commended by the State of Alabama House of Representatives for “Outstanding Community Service.” Tubby has earned respect in the halls of commerce, the field of education, and a wide range of community service. His Christian beliefs infuse every area of his life. He has never faltered in his love and pride for Opp and its people. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
