Ninth Generation

3380. Dr. Paul Bryan Hall^1154,1156 was born in Jan 1897 in Johnson County, Kentucky.¹¹⁵⁶ He died on 9 Jun 1990 in Johnson County, Kentucky.¹⁹¹¹ He was buried in Davis Cemetery, Davis Branch, Johnson County, Kentucky.¹¹⁵⁸ He was a medical doctor.

• From Johnson County (Kentucky) History website (http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/people/H.html):

"Hall, Dr. Paul B. - 1/21/1897 - 6/9/90. Physician, philanthropist and sportsman, Dr. Paul Bryan Hall served his fellowman and his community with distinction. Prior to earning his medical degree from the University of Louisville, Dr. Paul B. was a gifted baseball star at the University of Kentucky. He later served in the United States Navy during World War I. He took up the game of golf and, upon his return to Paintsville to practice medicine, he persuaded his father to give him a portion of the family farm for a golf course. Dr. Paul B. became a formidable left-handed golfer. He also served as a director and officer of First National Bank of Paintsville. Dr. Hall was one of the foremost surgeons in eastern Kentucky. Before his death he was inducted into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and named a Distinguished Fellow of the University of Kentucky."

• From University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni web page (http://www.ukalumni.net/distinguishedalums/hallPB.htm):

Paul Bryan Hall. Born in Paintsville, Ky., on January 21, 1897. Died, June 9, 1990. Physician. Author. Civic Leader. University of Kentucky, attended, 1917-1918.

In 1917, the year he batted 500 as a member of the University's baseball team, he was faced with a dilemma: accept an offer by the Pittsburgh professional baseball team, or go on to medical school as he had long planned. He says he is glad he "had the common sense to enter medical school."

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. After graduation from the University of Louisville medical school, he returned in June of 1923 to his native Paintsville and began the practice of medicine.

In the mid-1960's he published his book, Forty Years in the Practice of Medicine and Surgery in Eastern Kentucky, a privately-printed volume that chronicles the changes in the practice of medicine since the early 1920's. The Ashland Independent in 1972 stated editorially that he is "recognized as the finest surgeon anywhere in the hills."

Known throughout the hills as Dr. Paul B., he has practiced in Johnson, Martin, Magoffin and other counties, performing, he recalls "as much kitchen table surgery as operating room surgery." During one June he was out 25 nights of the month. During December of 1928, he delivered 31 babies, "one for each day of the month." He wore out several horses, and often his feet froze to the stirrups and he was forced to use a hatchet to free himself.

In 1977, he was cited for his 42 years as President of Paintsville Hospital, which had grown in that time from 25 beds to more than 100 beds and a staff of 12 doctors. He gave the first penicillin inoculation and the first blood transfusion in Eastern Kentucky. He has been known as an accomplished violinist and has given several public performances. In 1969, he was honored for his 35 years as Chairman of the county's library board.

He has been active in the Johnson County Little League, and donated the site for the Paul B. Hall Recreational Building, erected at a cost of $500,000 which features a 400-seat multipurpose room, a day-care center, game room, kitchen and lounge, a public information center and private meeting rooms.

Besides maintaining a daily schedule at the hospital, long after most men have retired, he also manages to play golf every day the weather permits. He enters the Paintsville Golf Tournament every year. He built the Paintsville Country Club and cared for it himself for several years, eventually donating it to the city.

He has been a member of the school board, Commander of the local and district American Legion, Director of the Paintsville Development Association, President of the Rotary Club, Vice President and member of the board of his bank, and Chairman of the Johnson County Democratic Party and the Johnson County Board of Health.

He has served as both President and Secretary of the Johnson County and area medical associations. He served for 40 years as Chairman of the county's library and was cited in 1969 as the Kentucky Library Association's outstanding trustee. He has served as a member of the board of regents of Morehead State University, and on both the UK board of trustees and the board of the UK Alumni Association.

Paul Bryan Hall was named to the Hall of Distinguished Alumni on April 7, 1975.


• 1930 Census for Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky shows Paul B. Hall, 33, a hospital surgeon, as head of household with: Blanche, 31, his wife of eight years; son Robert A., 5; and son James E., 3. They own a home valued at $4000.

Dr. Paul Bryan Hall and Blanche Ward were married on 25 Sep 1922.¹⁹¹² Blanche Ward (daughter of Ashley Ward) was born on 2 Apr 1899.¹⁹¹² She died in Jul 1986 in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky.¹⁹¹³ She was buried in Davis Cemetery, Davis Branch, Johnson County, Kentucky.¹¹⁵⁸

• From Johnson County (Kentucky) History website (http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/people/H.html): "Hall, Blanche Ward - 8/12/1899 - 7/7/86: Blanche Ward married Paul Bryan Hall prior to his graduation from the University of Louisville Medical School. She devoted her life to her husband, her two sons, Robert A. Hall and James E. Hall, and to the First Methodist Church of Paintsville where she taught the youth group Sunday School class for more than 40 years."

• In his book, Johnson County, Kentucky : a history of the county, and genealogy of its people up to the year 1927 (1928), p. 288, C. Mitchel Hall says: "Mrs. P.B. Hall was reared in Paintsville and Johnson County and received her education in the county and city schools at that place; also the Sandy Valley Seminary, the State Teachers' College at Richmond, Kentucky, and the University of Chicago. She taught in the city schools at Paintsville and at Wayland, Kentucky, until her marriage to Dr. Hall. Mrs. Hall is an attractive woman, is active in women's organizations of Paintsville, and is very popular in the city."


Dr. Paul Bryan Hall and Blanche Ward had the following children:

+5647	i.	Dr. Robert Ashley Hall.
+5648	ii.	James Ernest Hall.