FAYETTEVILLE — The Rev. Andrew Hall, a Baptist minister who died Monday at 92, loved his church, his community, humor and Razorback sports.
“Football is only a game. Eternal things are spiritual. Nevertheless, beat Texas,” read a sign he wrote that caught national media attention during the 1969 Texas-Arkansas football game known as the “Big Shootout.”
“He was a great friend and great contributor to the welfare of this community, and we’re proud to know him,” Frank Broyles, former Razorback football coach and athletic director, said Tuesday morning.
Broyles called the reverend for some help the day of that game, Hall’s son, Grant, said. The Rev. Billy Graham was in town to give the game’s invocation, Grant Hall said.
“He called my dad and said ‘Andy, I’ve got Billy Graham here at my house, but I need to go get ready for the game,’” Grant Hall said. “Could you come over. So, our family got to come over and meet him.”
Jamie Jones, a decades-long friend who is one year younger than Andrew Hall, said he began working in the 1950s as director of the Baptist Student Union at the university and he remembered working closely with Hall and developed a close friendship with Jones’ family, he said.
“The thing I remember him most vividly about was that he was very much involved in the life of students or his church members,” Jones said. “He came to visit us faithfully after he retired up here. He was always willing to help people any way he could. He was big on the personal visitations of church members, whether at the hospital and home. It’s really hard for me to put in words exactly what he meant to us.”
Hall pastored churches in Arkansas, Kentucky and Florida over a period of 74 years, including First Baptist Church in Fayetteville for 17 years. His column “Musings” appeared in local newspapers for several years. His last sermon was about two weeks ago in Elkins, Grant Hall said.
Nolan Richardson, former Razorback basketball coach, said he met Andrew Hall on the golf course. The pair developed a friendship, and like many others, Hall visited Richardson at his ranch for prayer, he said.
“He had great impact on my life from the standpoint of his listening and talking,” Richardson said. “He lived what he talked about.”
Hall died of cancer but kept his humorous mood and concern for his church members even when they came to visit him in his final days, Grant Hall said.
“The other night in the hospital, one of the nurses said, 'Do you drink coffee?' He said, 'No, I’m not old enough yet,'” Grant Hall said.
Hall leaves behind two brothers, two children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. today at First Baptist Church.