Former Charlestown mayor Clay Hall dies at 80

Clark County

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July 19, 2012

Former Charlestown mayor Clay Hall dies at 80

He also served as city judge and on the school board

By BRADEN LAMMERS braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Thu Jul 19, 2012, 09:43 PM EDT

CHARLESTOWN — Clay Hall, former two-term mayor of Charlestown, Charlestown City Court Judge and president of the Charlestown Metropolitan School Board, died Wednesday at his home. He was 80 years old.

In addition to his involvement in city government and the city’s schools, Hall was a co-owner of Hall Brothers Service Center along with his brothers Jim and Ray.

Harold Goodlett — who served on the metropolitan school board with Hall and on several boards during his terms as mayor — said Clay Hall had many friends and was well-liked.

“We were on opposite sides politically ... but it really didn’t matter,” he said. “He could call people together. Clay did what he thought was right, for the right reasons.”

Hall served as the city’s mayor for two nonconsecutive terms from 1976-1980 and 1984-1988. Between 1980-1984, he served as the City Court Judge. He was also a founding member of the Charlestown Township Democrat Club.

“He was the kind of guy that was very giving,” Goodlett said. “He liked to see the good in everybody.”

He added that Hall was a strong supporter of youth and youth programs.

As evidenced, Hall served on the school board as a member and as a president prior to the merger with Greater Clark County Schools. Following the merger, he worked with Greater Clark County Schools until 1991 when he retired as administrator of auxiliary services.

“I always found Clay to be very personable,” said Chuck Ledbetter Sr., longtime Charlestown resident. “He was always a person who did his very best and tried to do the very best for his community.”

Ledbetter said Hall was a man of honesty and integrity and he passed a desire for public service onto his family, which also extended to his service in education.

“I’m sure he had a big impression on his family wanting to be involved in the city,” he said.

Among Hall’s survivors are his children Mike Hall, also a former Mayor of Charlestown, Ruth Ann Rawlings, current Charlestown city councilwoman and Tony Hall, a retired teacher, coach and athletic director for Charlestown High School.

According to his obituary, Hall was happy to serve his community, was a proud member of Charlestown and was especially proud that his children also work to serve Charlestown.

“[He’s] the kind of guy that believed in the community, believed in Charlestown,” Goodlett said.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Grayson Funeral Home in Charlestown, with burial to follow in Charlestown Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and after 9 a.m. Saturday. Masonic services will be at 8 p.m. today.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sarah Rose Hall 2012 Memorial Fundraiser to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association in care of the New Washington State Bank.