Photograph by George Sakkestad
Randy Hall keeps the tuba he played in college hung on a tree in his back yard.
Saratogan a veritable Jack of all trades
Retirement hasn't slowed down Randy Hall
By Shari Kaplan
Sitting in his cozy study, whose windows overlook shade trees and bright gardens, Saratogan Marshall R. "Randy" Hall invests everything he looks at with meaning.
Lining the shelves are books on such topics as vintage cars, politics, law, American history and the military. Nearby tables sport awards from car-fanciers' clubs. Even the pretty grounds outside reflect the efforts of Hall and wife, Marcia, who have never employed a gardener, even when overhauling the unkempt yard left by the home's previous owners.
The path Hall took to arrive here began in downtown San Jose during the late 1930s, where he was born a fifth generation Bay Area native. A history major at Northwestern University, Hall did not follow his family tradition of becoming a doctor or lawyer. He did, however, do almost everything else.
After college, he joined the U.S. Navy. "Everybody went into the military in those days," he says. "You were either drafted or you enlisted." For him, it also fulfilled a personal goal. "I'd always wanted to be a Naval officer. Then I realized a non-Naval Academy graduate who doesn't fly planes or command submarines isn't going to go very far," says Hall, who became a lieutenant.
After his four-year commitment, including work on an amphibious attack vessel, Hall was honorably discharged. From there, it was on to law school--but no degree. He realized he wasn't cut out for the bar, although he enjoyed his stint with the district attorney's office and even helped put a criminal behind bars.
Next, Hall worked in the insurance field, then headed for IBM, where he worked in sales for some 30 years. During this time, the company sent Hall, his wife and two children from Saratoga to the state of Washington. Within a few years, IBM sent them back to the South Bay, so back to Saratoga they went.
Downsizing and retirement seven years ago brought more opportunities for the ambitious Hall, who served as continuing education director for San Jose State University's College of Engineering and then worked for U.S. Electric Car, a friend's start-up company. When that went under, Hall--a handyman since his teenage years--started his own company, Home & Garden Improvement Service.
In his free time, Hall stays busy with the Rotary Club of San Jose, the largest chapter in the area. As president, he runs weekly luncheon meetings and oversees the chairs of some 56 committees, among other things.
"The key to Rotary is fellowship and community service. It's not about business, it's about friendship. You meet people who you wouldn't otherwise meet," he says.
Hall also restores vintage cars and belongs to the Classic Car Club of America, the Rolls Royce Owners' Club, the Cadillac Owners' Club and the Military Vehicle Enthusiasts' Club. His oldest "babies" are a Ford Model A roadster pickup and a Rolls Royce Phantom I roadster, both from 1928. Next is his 1938 Cadillac convertible limo and 1956 GMC pickup. "The rest are junk!" he says of those he's still working on.
"I've liked cars since I began driving in the fruit orchards when I was 12 years old. My father gave me an old Franklin and said, 'If you can make it run, you can have it.' When I was a kid, we didn't have TV, so we played with cars," he adds with a grin.
Saratoga, California Since 1975
