Joseph Elroy Hall

Joseph Elroy Hall died Sunday, July 4, 2021. Joseph was born 88 years ago to Willa Betty Hall and Thomas Hall in Dolomite, Alabama, where, with older brother Thomas, he spent his early years until mother and brother and he moved to Dayton, Ohio. A good student, Joseph was educated in the public school system, and participated in choir, drama and public speaking groups in high school.

Shortly after high school, he volunteered with the U.S. Marine Corp and served for two years. He began his college education at the University of Dayton, and after his discharge from the military, he moved to California where he completed his studies and graduated from Sacramento State College (now University of California at Sacramento.

Joseph's employers included, Lockhead Martin, (Technical Writer), the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, work in real estate, and the Tech Computer Software Corp., a company he founded.

In the 1970's - 1980's, Joseph became active in Democratic groups and the NAACP, serving as the President of the NAACP, San Francisco chapter, representing Northern California.

His active participation in the NAACP included fundraising for:

- A theater night, partnering with the touring company of The Wiz

- The After Thanksgiving Balls a t the Fairmont Hotel

- Dinners honoring the Executive Director of the NAACP, Benjamin Hooks and for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley

Additionally, he was involved in the 1978 class action suit, San Francisco NAACP v. San Francisco Unified School District, seeking desegregation of the District's schools on behalf of a class of all school age children who are or may in the future become eligible to attend the public schools of the District. In 1983, a Consent Decree set forth racial and ethnic guidelines for the assignment of San Francisco school children to the schools of the District. The National NAACP provided research staff at his request.

He is survived by his niece and nephew, and many cousins. Appreciated for their work and kindness are Sacramento neighbors Lori and William (Bill) Aguirre, and Michael Doyle.

He will be remembered and missed as a man who possessed a curious mind with many questions, always searching for answers.