Hall a fan of community, center

Dick Hall said he got here when he was 12 years old, coming from Great Falls, Mont. "Before that we lived in Shelby, and before that we lived in Midwest, and before that we lived in California, and before that we lived in New Mexico."

As to why he moved around so much, Hall said his father was a petroleum engineer who was later appointed the district engineer here, for the United States Geological Survey.

After he graduated high school in 1948, "on a Sunday afternoon, and Monday morning I was on a bus to Deadwood to join the Navy." He attended boot camp at San Diego, Calif., and noted that he actually served through 1952, when he was honorably discharged as a Quartermaster Third Class.

After his service, he attended at University of Wyoming where he was also a member of the ROTC program. After his graduation at UW, he went into service with the U.S. Army from 1957-70.

"Then I went into the Army Reserve," he said, "and I got another 10 years and was discharged on my birthday in 1980."

As for his return to Thermopolis the same year, Hall said he's now retired and it seemed like a good idea to come here. He enjoys the ambience, atmosphere and the people, as well as spending time at the Hot Springs County Senior Center. Of the center he said, "They feed me almost every day and I don't have to shop, cook or clean up."

He also helped to start the Hobby Night at the center, and from that the Writers Club has developed. Hall noted he's a "cowboy poet," which he describes as "a poet who specializes in remembering the West the way it should've been."

In his spare time, he digs for rocks and pans for gold, and enjoys the Community Federated Church and said "We've got two of the best pastors I've ever known."