George Arthur Hall

George Arthur Hall, chemist, ornithologist, died Feb. 28, 2008, at Ruby Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Parkersburg, WV, June 16, 1920, but grew up in western Pennsylvania.

He received his Bachelor of Chemistry degree from WVU, and earned the Whitehill Award for excellence in chemistry, given in the freshman year.  He earned his Ph.D. from Ohio State.

He was a member of Sigma Xi, the chemistry honor fraternity, and Phi Beta Kappa.  He was professor of Chemistry at WVU for many years, but his lifelong passion was birds.

He was a member of several domestic and international ornithological societies, including the Brooks Bird Club, the BOU, the AOU, of which he was a Fellow, and the Wilson Ornithological Society, whose publication he edited for 10 years.  He also served as its president.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the Allegheny Front Migration Observatory, from which he banded and studied birds.

He has many publications to his credit, the last being an overview of AFMO, published in 2007.  He was the author of "West Virginia Birds," and with Jay Buckelew, he compiled and edited "The West Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas."  He was a longtime regional editor for North American Birds.

He was on the field staff of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh.  He liked to travel and see new birds, particularly in South America.  George collected bird stamps, mostly for the pleasure of identifying the birds pictured thereon.

He was very interested in conservation issues worldwide, and supported those organizations which addressed such issues.  He very much enjoyed the Rail Trails, both for exercise and the birding opportunities they offered.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Tanya Hall; a son, Andrew Hall and wife, Elena, of Columbus, OH; and a grandson, Alec.

At the request of the family, there will be no services.  Cremation services provided by Hastings Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any conservation organization of choice, the WVU libraries, the Chemistry department or any of the ornithological societies.

Send condolences online at:  www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.