Getting to know Deacon Clif Hall
Clif was born in Lansing, Michigan, the oldest of four children.  He has two brothers and a sister.  His father was a career soldier in the U.S. Army for twenty years.  Early in his life his mother was a nurse, but later was a stay at home homemaker.  When Clif was about six or seven, the family moved to South Dakota.  Here he grew up in a boy’s paradise, camping with friends and Boy Scouts in carefree, wide-open spaces.

In the fifth grade, Clif remembers an English tutor, Mrs. Hatt, who helped him tremendously overcome difficulties he was having in school with that subject.

When Clif was a sophomore, the family moved to Italy because of his father’s assignment.  He attended the military high school there where he met his future wife.  Carmen was a freshman, and she recalls how all the girls oohed and aahed over the “new boy on campus.” But it was her that caught him.  It may not have been love at first sight, but it became a love that has lasted fifty-two years!

Upon graduation Clif enlisted in the U.S. Army where he eventually spent twenty-two years.  He and Carmen were married in Massachusetts, where she had been living with her military family.  Over the next few years they traveled extensively wherever his assignments took them, overseas and stateside.  Two children, a boy and a girl, were born while Clif was away.  He did two tours in Vietnam during both births.  Today they also have five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
One person that Clif remembers as being very influential in his life is Father Paul, a priest he met while stationed at Fort Huahuca in Arizona.  He credits him with his decision to convert to Catholicism in 1973. Other significant, memorable people in his life are Deacon Paul Hunsucker and Father Alberic, a former priest at St. Thomas. 

In 2006, Clif was a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus when Deacon Paul encouraged him to enter the diaconate.  There was a two year waiting list, giving him time to ponder and pray about this, and in 2008 he entered the deaconate program.  Many of us at St. Thomas remember his graduation and are so grateful and thankful for his service here.

Deacon Clif is a history buff, and for relaxation enjoys reading and watching television.

When asked what advice he would give to anyone thinking about serving as a deacon, Deacon Clif said be prepared to GIVE, not TAKE.  It can be a very demanding position, even for the family.

His light shines on all!