August 8 has been proclaimed “Randall Hall Day” in the City of Shinnston.

 

The former Shinnston High School student, Bridgeport High School band director and renowned musician will be honored 5-8 p.m. at the Bice-Ferguson Memorial Museum. At 7 p.m., a short program will take place which will feature the reading of a city proclamation and the unveiling of a pictorial postmark which has been specially created in Hall’s honor.

 

Museum Curator Maxine West Weser is organizing the event, which has been in the making for several months. The idea to honor Hall dates back further.

 

“In 2006 – when the museum first opened – we honored Randall’s mentor Buck Shaffer, who was his band teacher at Shinnston High School,” said Weser. “Woody Maley, vice-chair of the Bice-Ferguson Museum, suggested a couple of years ago that we honor Randall one of these days.”

 

In January of this year, Weser submitted a plan to establish Randall Hall Day. Being an ex-postmaster, she thought it would be appropriate to institute a pictorial postmark – just as the museum had done for Buck Shaffer eight years back.

 

“It just all worked into place,” Weser said.

 

In May, the museum sponsored an art contest, opened to amateurs and professionals, for the design of the postmark. Becky Ash Stewart submitted the design which was chosen and which will be unveiled at the Aug. 8 festivities.

 

For a 30-day period after the event, individuals can go to the Shinnston Post Office and request the Randall Hall pictorial postmark.

 

Stewart’s full-size design is being scaled down for the postmark. The original artwork – which depicts a clarinet, various musical notes and Hall with a baton – will be presented to the guest of honor Aug. 8.

 

“Becky is 49 and she’s taking art lessons,” Weser said. “She’s also a wonderful musician and her talent is spilling over into her art. Her design is so adorable.”

 

In July, the City of Shinnston will approve the proclamation which will be read at festivities. There will also be open mic time during which attendees are invited to share words and remembrances about the honored guest. There will also be an open reception with refreshments.

 

“We invite people who have played music with him in the past, students he has taught and any others who would like to come,” Weser said.

 

Hall has certainly been an instrumental personality in the City of Shinnston and beyond, Weser said.

 

“Randall was the original conductor of the Shinnston Community Band and he is such a talented musician,” she said. “Who else can say they have played back-up for Jerry Vale, Fabian, Vic Contina, The Rondells and several big bands? He was also a member of the

the Shinnston High School Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and has produced superior ratings for several bands. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

 

Read more about Randall Hall in this May 2013 Connect-Bridgeport story.