Paul Hall

October of 1993 I was going through many changes in my life. I had just finished college and I was working as a flight instructor. My Dad helped me set up a ground school at Prestonsburg Community College so I could earn some money. We had a class of about seven which was a nice number. Two of my students were very serious about the actual flying part as well. David Smith and Paul Hall were their names. Those two men became friends and shared flight time. They both wanted me to be their instructor and I was flattered to have them. David was an engineer who was in his 40’s and Paul was a retired gas worker who was 55 years old. Quickly after getting them started I interviewed and started flying for Worldwide Equipment in their Cheyenne II as the co-pilot. I was able to keep them as students and build the turbine time that I needed to further my career.

Mike and I were married in August of 1994. Soon after that I was offered a job with a company out of San Antonio. David had already finished his license but Paul had not. He was a little older and needed a little more attention than the younger students that I had trained. I remember telling Paul that I was moving to San Antonio. He was upset to say the least. I thought he was going to cry. He explained that nobody would have the patience to finish him up. I promised him that my Father would be a great instructor for him and I was sure would have no problem helping him attain his license. I felt terrible that I was leaving him feeling so upset. But I did explain that this was my path to getting to the major airlines someday. He told me that he understood but his expression showed me that he felt otherwise.

I was busy learning to fly the Metroliner and living in a new city. Newly married and 23 years old I quickly moved on to my new life in the big city. I was busy making a living and trying not to kill myself in this new job. When things settled down and I was able to come home, I find that Dad and Paul have become fast friends. Paul finished his license and they help each other out with everything. So I get used to the routine that Paul is flying the airplane when Dad picks me up in Louisville or Huntington or wherever I happen to land. Paul is excited about my career and wants to know everything about what is going on in my life. He is a constant person in my life when I come home. In fact, over the last 19years I am not sure if I ever came home without seeing Paul.

I mentioned earlier that, like most of us who learn things later in life, Paul learning to fly in his fifties took some effort. However, I also found that once he learned something, he was exceptional. About 9 years ago, he, Mom and Dad were going to deliver an airplane (19817) to us while we were visiting Mike’s parents in Tennessee. The winds were goofy that day. They were gusty, with peaks exceeding 40 knots. Since the winds were right down the runway, Larry and Paul decided to fly. We went to airport to watch them arrive. Larry and Judy landed in one airplane, then Paul in 19817. Paul had slowed down and was taxiing in when a big gust hit the airplane. It shot up about 30 feet in the air and was barely moving forward. It was one of the scariest things I have seen around flying… it looked like a leaf being flung up in the air. We thought for sure it was going to be a disaster, but Paul calmly added power, leveled the wings and landed again. He slowed to a crawl and taxied in. We literally jogged out to help hold the plane down as approached the tie-down area. People often say nice things about people just to be considerate, but I really mean it when I say that Paul is a great pilot.

He came to Texas several times to see us in our home on the airpark. He loved our place and he always slept in the media room and called it his bedroom. I remember the first time he was coming down he thought he shouldn’t come because he would be a bother to us. I asked him if he wanted to come? He said yes. I told him that we would love to have him and I was excited to show him our home. The first time he rode with the Kinzer Family and my parents in the Citation X. It was a short visit but very cool to be riding in a corporate jet and hanging out at an airpark. The second time he and Dad flew N7328G here to change the engine out. It was a little over two weeks to finish that project. It turned out to be an emotional time because while they were here Mike was laid off from his job of 12 years. It was short notice and the owner drove to our house to tell him they he needed to collect his stuff.

Paul was very concerned for Mike and wanted to help him. I remember him coming up with ideas of jobs for Mike that would be as good or better than Prism. Paul and Dad had a productive trip. They basically changed everything from the firewall forward and the airplane was as good as new. Paul was a lifesaver. He helped with the engine and he cooked lunch for he and Dad when I was on my trips and they just had a great time watching it come together.

Over time I just thought of Paul as a family member who really cared about me and my family. We always asked him to come eat with us when I was home. He usually helped out with parties at the airport and he was always helping my Father with chores and projects around the airport and even around the house.

The last time I was home we went out my Dad’s pontoon boat and we fished. This was one of Paul’s favorite things to do. He laughed at me when I started fishing with them because he knows I am such an animal lover he didn’t think I would even want to hurt the worm or the fish. He was right, I didn’t put the worm on the hook (Paul did it for me) and I didn’t catch any fish. But I did like casting the line out and getting it caught on the trees and stumps in the water.

When Dad told me Paul was in the hospital I called and left a message. I really wanted to talk to him. I kept hoping he would call back. I always loved chatting with him on the phone about anything and everything. Then Dad called to tell me that his best friend Paul had passed it really hurt. I feel a huge hole in my heart. When I go home I won’t be jumping in the back seat of the Cessna and telling Paul that I completely trust him to fly me home. I won’t get to tell him my stories about the crazy Captains that I fly with or answer his specific questions about my job. I always felt like he was so proud of all that I accomplished. And that is because he loved to tell me how proud he was of Mike and I. He loved our house and our neighbors too. He was able to ride with some of them in various airplanes. To experience flight in another type of aircraft was definitely one of his favorite things to talk about.

When I go home it is going to feel strange not to see him. He was always helping my Dad with everything. Dad is going to miss him in every way. I still remember how it felt to leave him extremely upset the day I told him I was leaving. But now I am the one who is upset because I know I will never hug his big sturdy frame again on this earth.