For decades, a Marion County leader and advocate worked to make Marion County and its business community stronger. Pam Hall fought stage IV colon cancer for four years, until her death in 2019 at age 67.
Hall’s final requests were to “make memories every single day, allow God to guide your every move, be a servant within your community, do unto others, remember that your body is God’s temple….there is absolutely no excuse to avoid having a colon screening.”
Pam’s Start
Hall grew up in Caledonia. She was active in cheerleading, band and choir at River Valley High School. Her cheerleading foreshadowed the work Hall would do to build up Marion County.
After graduation, she attended Marion Technical College and studied business management. At the same time, she started working at Floyd Brown & Associates. She became the first woman and youngest partner in the firm, where she worked for 27 years.
Pam Leads the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce
Hall made the leap to becoming president of the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC). For 21 years, she served more than 500 members, advocating especially for the small businesses it represented. She started the Leadership Marion program to help future leaders learn about Marion County, its history and its strengths.
Hall volunteered for many nonprofits throughout her life, including the United Way, Marion Noon Kiwanis, the Marion Community Foundation, and Marion CANDO! Her family described her as “being a community servant was Pam’s greatest passion and hobby” in her obituary.
Pam’s Awards
In 2017, Hall received the Athena Award from the Women’s Business Council, which recognizes outstanding leaders in the business community.
“I’m humbled and I’m honored and I’m grateful,” Hall said at the ceremony, Marion Online reported.
At the time, Hall also praised the Women’s Business Council.
“Our whole MarionMade! campaign is helping us think much more positively about our community, and this event has allowed us for 20 years now to think positively about things that happen in our community.”
Mayor Scott Schertzer declared March 13, 2017 to be Pam Hall Day. This was one of many honors Hall received.
At Hall’s last Chamber annual meeting in February 2019, Hall told the crowd, “You are a part of our legacy…. We exist only to help your business become more successful.”
Hall called each business leader a light in the community and challenged them to work together and not to let anything dim Marion’s light.
Memories of Pam
“I spent many years on the Marion Area Chamber Board of Directors with Pam Hall. Her passion for this community was deeply inspiring. She worked tirelessly for the betterment of Marion and tackled many difficult challenges to achieve it,” said Jacqueline Psyhogios, owner of Laipply’s Printing & Marketing. “As a Chamber, we created the Pam Hall Betterment of Marion award, of which she was the first recipient, to honor those who carry out her legacy in continuing to champion the growth and success of this great community. Much of the preliminary work Pam Hall did has helped enable what is now unfolding in our town. I’m sure she’s smiling down on it and all of us.”
“She was a true leader with grit and determination. What a wonderful example she set for our graduates,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, president of Marion Tech and a member of the Chamber’s board of directors.
After Hall’s death in 2019, several people shared their memories of Hall with The Marion Star.
“What a gift she was to this community,” said longtime friend Shary Williamson. “She truly made a difference. Everything she did, she put her heart into everything. She was loved and respected by everybody. We will treasure every memory of her in our hearts forever.”
Dean Jacob, president and CEO of the Marion Community Foundation, echoed those sentiments.
“The word that first comes to mind when describing her is courageous,” Jacob said. “She was courageous in everything she did. As a woman, she pioneered in a lot of different areas back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, doing things in roles that were typical for men. She was courageous in the business roles she held and as the president of the Chamber of Commerce. In the Chamber, she was courageous to take on many difficult and challenging projects. She wasn’t afraid to tackle the big issues and really fight for things that she cared about and thought were important for the community.”
MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.
