Continued Service: US Air Force veteran and Texas Senator shares his story of service

AUSTIN Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dr. Dawn Buckingham announced the next installment of the VLB “Continued Service” series Thursday featuring U.S. Air Force Veteran and Texas Sen. Bob Hall.

“Here at the VLB, we strive to ensure that the stories of our Veterans are preserved and celebrated,”Buckingham said in a news release. “Through VLB’s ‘Continued Service’ series, we are helping Veterans who have gone on to serve in the Texas government share the wisdom and strength they have gained from a life dedicated to service. As this series uplifts these veterans’ voices, it is my hope that Texans will gain a deeper appreciation for the work of our veterans who choose to continue their service to our state and nation.”

During his interview, Hall talked about overcoming adversity upon his arrival at Norton Air Force Base in California, a tactic learned early on while at The Citadel.

“When I arrived, they looked at me and said, ‘We can’t take you here, you’re a Second Lieutenant and you only have a Bachelor’s degree, we can only accept Captains, Senior Captains with a Masters Degree, but we’ll see what we can do,’” Senator Hall explained. “Well, after three weeks of waiting, I finally got a job in one of the program offices with a Major from Alabama who was a Naval Academy graduate, he hired me, and in about two and half years, I went from not really having a job there to being the go-to-person for solving problems. What I learned at the Citadel about never quitting, you innovate, adapt, and overcome no matter what the problem is.”

Senator Bob Hall represents East Dallas’s District 2 and serves as the Chairman of the vital Senate Committee on Administration and an influential voting member on the Senate Committee of Finance, Health and Human Services, Local Government, and Veteran Affairs.

After serving in the Air Force, he worked as a systems engineer and business development manager in the aerospace industry. In 1982, he left the corporate world and worked as an independent proposal consultant for aerospace and defense corporations. Then, in 1984, he formed his company, Professional Proposal Management, Inc.

A compelling sense of duty, shaped by his military service, business experience, and love for this country, drives him to leave behind the legacy of a patriotic servant for his children and grandchildren. Envisioning their futures compelled him to become actively involved in the state’s political process, and he firmly believes it is time to stand in the gap for our children, our liberties, and our future.

The “Continued Service” series is a separate initiative from the VLB’s Voices of Veterans program. Any Veteran interested in including his or her story in the Voices of Veterans oral history program should contact the VLB at (512) 475-1248.