HALL, Roland (Bill)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 01/09/2004 Roland "Bill" Hall died peacefully Jan. 3, 2004 in Payson. Bill was born Jan. 30, 1920 in Orson, Iowa. His family was farmers and moved from Iowa to Nebraska in 1928. Bill played semi-pro baseball for Coors Brewery and then St. Louis Cardinals in 1938 as a pitcher. He attended the University of Nebraska and then moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he met and married Crystal in 1942. Bill began working in the cattle industry in Illinois, but then enlisted in the US Marine Corp. in 1943 during WWII. He was stationed in Guam and Northern China. After the war, he moved his family to Illinois and then to Tempe in 1952. Bill worked as a stockbroker for E.F. Hutton until 1972. He also was a radio commentary on KPHO for stocks and commodities. Bill officiated high school and college football and basketball games, and also did sports radio commentary of KPHO until 1972. He served on the Kyrene School Board as president from 1960-1972. Throughout the years, his family raised registered Black Angus cattle, and entered competitions. In 1972, Bill moved his family to Yuma and bought 320 acres to raise cattle and farm. Bill and his son Bill, Jr., opened up the Yuma meat packing plant from 1975-1979. Later Bill and Crystal traveled between Florida and Arizona and built their dream house in Marshfield, Missouri in 1986. They moved to Show Low in 1996, to be closer to family, Bill often said "he had lived a full and rewarding life". "Daddy" will always be in his family's hearts as a loving giving and compassionate man. He was a wonderful husband, father and will be dearly missed. Bill is survived by his daughter Janet Lyons of Show Low; his son Bill (Gabriella) Hall, Jr.; grandchildren, Jason (Kim) Hall, Carissa (Wayne) Cox; great-grandchildren, Stetson, Austin, and Shane of Mesa. He was preceded in death by his wife Crystal in 2002 after 62 years of marriage. Services will be held at the White Mountain Methodist Church in Show Low Saturday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. Internment and military tribute will be held at a later date at The National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix. Owens Mortuary of Show Low handled arrangements.