On a sunny homecoming weekend Friday, October 8, College and Georgia Tech leadership, faculty, and friends gathered to honor Mrs. Pamela M. and Colonel Stephen C. Hall, USAF (Retired) and to dedicate the Stephen C. Hall Building. 

The Halls are a steadfast presence at Georgia Tech, and the ceremony celebrated their deep attachment to and support of the Institute, the ROTC, and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Formerly known as the Navy ROTC building, the structure at 215 Bobby Dodd Way will be renovated to house the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture's (LCC).Writing and Communications Program.

The dedication ceremony commenced with the posting of The Colors by Georgia Tech Air Force, Army, and Navy ROTC cadets. Following remarks by President Peterson, Dean Jacqueline Jones Royster expressed appreciation to the Halls for their deep understanding of the College’s liberal arts mission, as well as the broad humanities training the College provides for all Georgia Tech students, and the ever-increasing need for cutting-edge facilities.

“With this renovation, soon to be underway, we breathe easier,” said Royster. “We celebrate the fact that it will take us much farther down the path of accomplishing our most basic Ivan Allen College goals: the creation of a highly charged intellectual community in which students, faculty, and staff come together to foster a culture of communication excellence.”

Mr. Stephen Eiting, Vice President of Operations, L3-Communications Systems-West spoke on the importance of communications skills to rising business managers, and the value of the skills being taught in LCC.  Also present for the ceremony were Dr. Kenneth J. Knoespel, who has most recently served as Interim Dean of the College and as Chair of the School of LCC, and Dr. Rebecca Burnett, Director of the Writing & Communications Program, both of whom worked to help bring about the new facility.

In a moving speech, Col. Hall explained his commitment to the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and the Writing and Communications Program saying that “the language elevates” and “writing and presenting are not optional.” He also cited his deep admiration for college namesake, Ivan Allen Jr. Hall resided in Atlanta during the 1960s and said that Mayor Allen’s communication abilities were a distinguishing characteristic and a key to his extraordinary leadership during the terrible strife of the civil rights struggle. Col. Hall remembered Development Officer Ski Hilenski, who passed away in 2009, for the inspiration he provided.

“The adventure continues,” said Col. Hall. “An adventure steeped in scholarship, lighted by a legacy, grounded in gratitude, and powered by a promise. That promise being that Pam and I will continue the journey, doing as much as we can, for as long as we can, as Tech and the Ivan Allen College grow into the years ahead.”

Col. Hall is Director at Large of Depot Operations for L-3 Communication Systems-West, a leading supplier of products and services used in aerospace and defense platforms. A 1967 Georgia Tech graduate with a degree in Management, he served in the Air Force for over two decades. Hall is a member of the Ivan Allen College Development Council, and he and Mrs. Hall have supported many critical activities in the college. They established the Steven C. Hall Endowed Scholarship to help students who are children of active duty military members. They endowed the Bynum Suite in Skiles Building in honor of Col. Hall’s teacher and mentor Dr. James J. Bynum, Jr., a professor who taught in the English Department, now the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture.

The Halls have sponsored the College’s Founder’s Day Ivan Allen Jr. Legacy Awards which recognize faculty, students, and alumni. Col. Hall has supported the Georgia Tech Alumni Roll Call for nearly 30 years. He is a frequent and popular lecturer on campus speaking to ROTC and history students on World War II strategy and campaigns, and the roles and contributions of women and minorities.

Top Photo: (left to right) Georgia Tech President G. P. "Bud" Peterson, Mrs. Pamela M. Hall, Dean Jacqueline Jones Royster, and Colonel Stephen C. Hall unveiled the building plaque which reads:  The Stephen C. Hall Building is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces by Mrs. Pamela M. and Colonel Stephen C. Hall, IM 1967.   Across the bottom of the plaque are displayed the official seals of the Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corp.

Second Photo: The Stephen C. Hall Building

Third Photo:  David Hall (Col. Hall's brother), Mrs. Pamela Hall, Mrs.Christine Hall (Col. Hall's mother), Jacqueline Jones Royster, Col. Stephen Hall, and G. P. "Bud" Peterson in front of the plaque that was unveiled dedicating the Stephen C. Hall building in honor of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC.

Fourth Photo:  Rebecca Burnett, Director of the Writing and Communications Program with Col. Hall