Dik Hall's Obituary
Dik [Richard M] Hall, of Waterlefe, Bradenton, FL, beloved husband of Patsy Kline Hall, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023 after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is predeceased by his parents Alfred and Rose Hall and his brother, Sandy . Dik moved to Florida from St. Louis, Missouri, where he continued to run his international Production Company and Speakers Bureau, DICK HALL PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Dik attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA and graduated from Miami Beach High School, FL, in 1951. His talent and passion for singing launched an incredible life-long career in entertainment when he won a talent show in his high school junior year at the Martinique Hotel in 1950 and sang at the Miami Beach Club throughout his high school years. Dik was chosen to sing the solo “Ballad for Americans” with a 35+choir and 15 piece orchestra at the Miami Beach Auditorium for a convention of 1, 500 people. He was discovered while singing at the Miami Beach Athletic Club by the executive assistant to Leonard Goldenson, CEO of Untied Paramount Theatres and president of ABC Television Network which launched his professional singing career.
Mr. Hall sang with Les Brown and His Band of Renown, toured nationally with the Blue Barron Orchestra, and as a stand-up singer, he was Martha Raye’s protoge and was the opening act for numerous stars, including Buddy Hackett, Bob Hope, Burl Ives...... was a founding member of The Hall Brothers .....and many, many more. Among other venues, he played the Hollywood Palladium Theater in Los Angeles, The State Theater in Baltimore, 5 O’Clock Club Miami Beach, Bal Tabarin Club, New York, NY, Village Barn, Greenwich Village, NY, Falmouth Playhouse, Cape Cod, MA and The Apollo Theater, Harlem, NY. Additionally he performed on world cruises and had small parts in three MGM movies.
Mr Hall entered the hospitality field when he began working at the Granit Hotel in Kerhonkson, New York, where he managed several of the resort’s nightclubs and booked all their star acts during the Catskills heyday period. He left the Catskills when he was offered the General Manger job at the Port O’Call Resort on Tierra Verde Island, Florida and remained there until Mr. Hall was brought to St. Louis by Don Breckenridge to be entertainment director for the Breckenridge Corporation’s hotel chain. It was during that time frame, 1977, while he was booking star entertainment for Breckenridge, that he created his production Company.
Mr Hall was extremely active in the Hospitality Industry and many organizations. In fact he spent his entire life volunteering and serving others. He was a Mason and Shriner - and at that time was the youngest member ever in the Mecca Temple, the original Shriners Temple in New York City. When he lived in Kerhonkson he joined the volunteer fire unit and even delivered a baby. When he lived in Frontenac, Missouri he was a police and fire commissioner.
His passion was Meeting Professionals International, where, in its formulative years, he helped create the hospitality industry. He was a charter member of the St.Louis chapter and also served as SLAMPI president in 1986. He served on the International Board , as Chairman of the International Relations Committee, and in 1992 presented the first international charter to Italy.
He was sent by MPI as an ambassador to Tokyo to share his expertise on meeting planning. In 1992, he was named the “Supplier of the Year” - chosen as the one out of 12,000 members. He also served on the MPI Foundation Board. In addition, he served as president of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION of SPEAKERS BUREAUS and as president of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION of CORPORATE EVENT PRODUCERS. He remained a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Dik and Patsy moved to WATERLEFE Golf and River Club in Bradenton, Florida in 2003. Dik helped with the transition from under the developer in numerous ways, ran the exploratory insurance committee, was original member of the entertainment committee, and was on the Board of Directors for nine years, serving as liaison to the River Club the entire time. During that time he brought in much of the entertainment to the Club. He also was a champion to the Artists Guild. At the same time, he chaired the CDD’s “erosion committee.”
Mr. Hall is survived by his wife Patsy Kline Hall of Bradenton, FL, his son Jef Hall his wife Jessica and granddaughter Mia of Mesa, AZ, Jack Boeger, his wife Kari and their sons Simon and Henry of Alameda, CA, Kirk Boeger and his wife Cara Jo Hinton of Las Vegas, NV and Peter Boeger and his wife Catherine and their daughters Zoe and Sasha of Kirkland, WA., his sister-in-law, Jo Hall, his nephews, Sandy Hall [Lydia] and Adam Hall, and their children. He is also survived by his side-kick Dexter Bear. Early May services will be private. Donations in Dik’s name can be made to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, to ASPCA [American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals], or to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Share in Dik's life story at boegerweb.com/dik-hall .
https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/119312/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=lttr-home-donate
Private services for Dik Hall on Tuesday May 9, 2023. Please contact Patsy for more information.
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