>> Narrator: THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY HAS FEW MORE LOYAL FRIENDS THAN JOHN R. HALL.

HE SUCCESSFULLY LED ONE OF OUR STATE'S MOST IMPORTANT CORPORATIONS THROUGH TURBULENT TIMES.

HIS CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY HAVE BEEN AS VARIED AS THEY HAVE BEEN GENEROUS, REFLECTING HIS PASSION FOR EDUCATION, THE ARTS, SPORT AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF KENTUCKY'S CITIZENS.

BUT JOHN HALL IS AN HONEST MAN AND HE WILL TELL YOU THAT EVEN AFTER LIVING IN KENTUCKY FOR MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE, HIS HEART STILL BELONGS TO HIS ALMA MATER, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.

WITH THAT IN MIND, LET US NOW CONSIDER THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF JOHN HALL, THE KENTUCKY COMMODORE.

>> Narrator: JOHN RICHARD HALL WAS BORN IN DALLAS, TEXAS IN NOVEMBER OF 1932.

THE BIG NEWS IN DALLAS AT THE TIME WAS A CRIME SPREE BY THE SOON-TO-BE LEGENDARY COUPLE KNOWN AS BONNIE AND CLYDE.

IN THE LARGER WORLD, FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT HAD JUST BEEN ELECTED.

ADOLF HITLER WAS ABOUT TO BECOME CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY.

PROHIBITION WOULD SOON BE JUST A FAILED EXPERIMENT.

AND IN KENTUCKY, DESPITE THE ECONOMIC DEVASTATION WROUGHT BY THE DEPRESSION, A YOUNG, HARD-CHARGING BUSINESSMAN NAMED PAUL BLAZER WAS MAKING A MARK FOR HIMSELF WITH THE ASHLAND REFINING COMPANY.

JOHN HALL'S FAMILY TRACES ITS ROOTS TO KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.

THE FAMILY MOVED TO DALLAS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THERE WAS A JOB.

>> Jim Hall: MY DAD WAS A SALESMAN.

HE STUDIED ENGINEERING AT VANDERBILT, BUT DURING THE DEPRESSION, OF COURSE THERE WERE VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Narrator: JOHN'S MOTHER WAS THE FORMER AGNES SANDERS.

HIS FATHER'S NAME WAS JOHN.

THEY CALLED HIM BIG JOHN.

THEY WERE A HAPPY COUPLE AND JOHN HALL WAS A HEALTHY, HAPPY BABY.

BUT AGNES DIDN'T CARE MUCH FOR TEXAS AND BY 1935 THE HALL FAMILY WAS BACK IN TENNESSEE, EVENTUALLY SETTLING IN KNOXVILLE.

>> Jim Hall: OH MY GOODNESS, NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINK WE LIVED IN 6 OR 7 DIFFERENT HOUSES WHEN WE WERE IN KNOXVILLE.

FIRST HOME WAS A VERY MODEST HOME, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE BECAUSE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WAS THE KNOXVILLE DRIVE-IN THEATRE.

SO DURING THE SUMMER EVERY EVENING, WE COULD GO OUT AND WATCH WHATEVER MOVIE WAS ON THE DRIVE-IN THEATER THAT EVENING.

MY DAD WAS VERY CAREFUL IN TERMS OF WHERE WE LIVED IN KNOXVILLE, TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE HAVING ACCESS TO THE BEST PUBLIC EDUCATION WE COULD.

>> Narrator: FOR JOHN HALL, THAT MEANT GOING TO KNOXVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS A SCHOOL THAT CLAIMED SUCH FAMOUS ALUMNI AS JAMES AGEE AND PATRICIA NEAL.

A GLANCE AT HALL'S CLASS OF '51 YEARBOOK SHOWS KNOXVILLE HIGH TO BE A PLACE WHERE EDUCATION, SPORTS AND A DEFINITE SET OF VALUES WERE STRESSED.

♪ >> Narrator: ALONG WITH SPORTS AND SCHOOL, JOHN WAS ACTIVE IN THE SCOUTS AND HIS CHURCH.

HIS MOTHER ALONG WITH TWO UNCLES WHO WOULD LATER BECOME BISHOPS IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DID MUCH TO SET HIS MORAL COMPASS.

BIG JOHN TAUGHT HIS SONS MANY THINGS -- A ZEST FOR LIFE· A LOVE FOR THE BLACK AND GOLD OF VANDERBILT· THE OPPOSITE FEELING FOR THE ORANGE OF TENNESSEE AND ABOVE ALL, THE VALUE OF HARD WORK.

YOUNG JOHN HAD A NEWSPAPER ROUTE AND LATER ON WORKED CONSTRUCTION FOR THE RAILROAD DURING HIS SUMMER VACATION.

>> John Hall: WHAT I WORKED ON, THEY CALLED THE SECTION GANG, GOING OUT AND DRIVING SPIKES INTO THE TIES AND PICKING UP BIG PIECES OF TRACK AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, IT WAS TOUGH.

IT WAS SO TOUGH THAT I GOT MY JOB, AND I WENT OUT THERE THE FIRST DAY.

IT WAS A REALLY HOT SUMMER.

I MEAN, I CAME HOME AND I TOLD MY DAD, "I'M NOT GOING BACK OUT THERE.

IT'S TOO BAD, TOO TOUGH."

HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD.

5:00 THE NEXT MORNING, HE WOKE ME UP AND SAID, "IT'S TIME TO GO."

(LAUGHTER) AND I SAID, "OKAY".

>> Narrator: THE HALL WORK ETHIC WAS OBVIOUS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

JOHN PLAYED ON THE LINE AND THOUGH A BIT UNDERSIZED, HE MORE THAN COMPENSATED WITH EFFORT AND TECHNIQUE.

HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO EARN SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS FROM VANDERBILT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, AMONG OTHERS.

TENNESSEE WAS A NATIONAL POWER AND ESSENTIALLY HIS HOMETOWN SCHOOL.

TO MAKE THE BONDS BIND EVEN CLOSER, JOHN WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE SONS OF THE HEAD COACH, THE REVERED GENERAL ROBERT NEYLAND.

IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE IN RECRUITING CIRCLES THAT WHEN NEYLAND CALLED, FEW PLAYERS RESISTED THE INVITATION.

HALL REMEMBERS HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE GENERAL.

>> John Hall: HE SAID "I DO KNOW THAT YOUR FATHER MAY NOT LET YOU COME TO TENNESSEE, BUT WE THINK YOU COULD DO WELL".

HE SAID, "NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO STUDY"?

I SAID, "WELL, MY PLANS ARE TO STUDY CHEMICAL ENGINEERING."

WELL, IT WAS A LONG SILENCE, AND HE SAID, "WELL, WE COULD MAKE YOU HAVE, BE A RED SHIRT ONE YEAR, AND YOU COULD BE AN ASSISTANT COACH THE OTHER YEAR AND WE COULD GET YOU THROUGH CHEMICAL ENGINEERING IN SIX YEARS."

I SAID, "WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT."

BUT I WASN'T GOING TO DO THAT, NO.

>> Narrator: JOHN HALL CAST HIS LOT WITH THE COMMODORES OF VANDERBILT.

HE HAD A GAME PLAN AND IT DIDN'T INCLUDE SPENDING SIX YEARS IN COLLEGE.

THOUGH HALL RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP OFFER TO VANDERBILT HE WASN'T ASSURED A PLACE ON THE TEAM.

AS WAS THE COMMON PRACTICE OF THE DAY, MANY WERE CALLED BUT FAR FEWER WERE CHOSEN.

>> John Hall: I THINK MY FRESHMAN YEAR THEY BROUGHT IN 100 FRESHMEN, AND THEY WOULD NEVER ADMIT IT, BUT YOU WERE GOING TO BE THERE, AND IN THREE WEEKS OR SO THE SEASON STARTS, WELL THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT DOWN TO 25.

SO THE WAY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IT DOWN TO 25 IS TO WORK YOU HARD IN THE HOT SUN AND FIND OUT WHO COULD TAKE IT I GUESS.

>> Narrator: JOHN HALL COULD TAKE IT, AND AS HIS LONGTIME FRIEND DON ORR RECALLS, HE COULD DISH IT OUT TOO!

>> Don Orr, Former Teammate: HE WAS BUILT LIKE A FIREPLUG.

AND HE WAS FULL OF ENERGY.

HE WAS FEISTY.

HE'D FIGHT YOU FOR EVERY INCH OF THE GROUND.

HE'S STILL THAT WAY.

HE'S COMPETITIVE AS HELL.

>> Bobby Goodall: WE PLAYED TOGETHER FOUR YEARS, AND HE PLAYED LEFT GUARD AND I PLAYED RIGHT GUARD.

HE WAS QUICK.

HE WAS FAST.

>> Charlie Horton, Former Teammate: I LEARNED TO RESPECT JOHN VERY QUICKLY.

HE WEIGHED ABOUT 185 POUNDS AS I RECALL AND HE WAS JUST REAL QUICK AND REAL TENACIOUS AND HE WOULD HIT YOU A GOOD LICK.

♪ >> Horton: HE WAS A VERY GOOD DOWNFIELD BLOCKER, EXCELLENT.

AND HE HAD GOOD SPEED.

HE COULD GET OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

I HAD GOOD SUCCESS GOING AROUND END WHEN JOHN WAS OUR GUARD.

HE WOULD GIVE IT HIS LAST OUNCE OF ENERGY TO BE VICTORIOUS.

♪ >> Narrator: IN TERMS OF WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES, THERE WERE GOOD YEARS AND LEAN YEARS DURING HALL'S TIME AT VANDY.

ALWAYS AT A HIGH LEVEL HOWEVER WAS HIS FOCUS ON ACADEMICS.

>> Horton: JOHN WAS VERY STUDIOUS·.

HE WAS A VERY DISCIPLINED PERSON >> Orr: YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO SCHOOL FROM 8 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 5 IN THE EVENING, BECAUSE WE HAD LABS IN THE AFTERNOON.

HE AND I ROOMED ON THE SAME FLOOR, AND SO BASICALLY WE'D STUDY UNTIL 10 OR 11:00 AT NIGHT.

EVERY NOW AND THEN HE'D KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAY "TIME FOR A BREAK".

(LAUGHTER) HIS BREAK CONSISTED OF GETTING OUT IN THE HALL AND DOING PUSHUPS AND SIT-UPS.

WE HAD THOSE CONTESTS JUST ABOUT EVERY NIGHT.

THERE WASN'T ANY GOOFING OFF.

>> John Hall: YES, IT WAS VERY HARD, PARTICULARLY HARD FOR ME BECAUSE AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, YOU KNOW, I WORKED REASONABLY HARD AND BEHAVED MYSELF, BUT I'D BE HAPPY IF I GOT A B OR A C PLUS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TILL I GOT INTO VANDERBILT, AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Ken Galloway: CERTAINLY HE MADE HIS MARK BOTH AS A STUDENT AND AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

I'VE SEEN HIM TALK ABOUT HIMSELF AS NOT A GREAT STUDENT BUT YOU KNOW YOU DON'T GRADUATE MAGNA CUM LAUDE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND NOT BE A GREAT STUDENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> Narrator: IT'S SAFE TO SAY JOHN HALL THRIVED ON A CHALLENGE >> John Hall: I WENT TO ENGLISH CLASS, AND I NOTICED I WAS THE ONLY ENGINEERING STUDENT IN ENGLISH CLASS, AND THE ENGLISH PROFESSOR ANNOUNCED TO THE CLASS THAT "THERE'S A FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THIS CLASS AND HE SHOULD KNOW THAT NOBODY EVER PASSED MY CLASS AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER."

SO, GAVE ME A LITTLE CHALLENGE ANYWAY.

(LAUGHTER) YES.

I THINK I GOT A B PLUSFROM HIM.

HE WASN'T GOING TO GIVE ME AN A.

>> Narrator: EMERGING WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL WAS ANOTHER TRAIT WHICH HAS MARKED HALL'S LIFE.

>> Nicholas Zeppos, Chancellor of Vanderbilt: ENGINEERS ARE PRACTICAL PROBLEM-SOLVERS.

I THINK THAT THAT SORT OF TRAINING, THIS KIND OF RIGOROUS THINKING, COMBINED WITH PROBLEM-SOLVING, COMBINED WITH YOU'VE GOT TO GET CREATIVE; I THINK ALL OF THOSE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IN JOHN.

>> Horton: HE LED BY EXAMPLE.

I THINK THAT'S A TRAIT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

>> Narrator: IN HIS SENIOR YEAR HALL WAS CO-CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

IN TERMS OF WINS IT WAS A DIFFICULT YEAR, HOWEVER, IT ENDED NICELY.

>> Sports Announcer: VANDERBILT SMEARED AN INDELIBLE 26 TO 0 ACROSS THE 1954 FOOTBALL RECORD YESTERDAY AS THE COMMODORES MAULED FAVORED TENNESSEE AT DUDLEY FIELD IN A RIOTOUS DUEL BEFORE 27,000 FANS.

AND THE SCENE IN THE LOCKER ROOM WILL LINGER FOREVER.

SOME OF THE BOYS WERE LAUGHING AND YELLING.

OTHERS WERE CRYING WITH JOY.

>> Narrator: IT WAS HALL'S FIRST AND ONLY WIN OVER THE BITTER IN-STATE RIVAL.

BIG JOHN WAS VERY HAPPY.

HE WAS ALSO VERY PROUD THAT HIS SON HAD BEEN NAMED VANDERBILT'S FIRST ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN.

JOHN HAD LIMITED TIME FOR A SOCIAL LIFE, BUT STILL WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY.

IT WAS AT A FRATERNITY FUNCTION THAT HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE, A NASHVILLE BEAUTY NAMED ANN MCQUIDDY.

THE BIG MAN ON CAMPUS HAD MET HIS MATCH.

BY THE TIME JOHN GRADUATED IN THE SPRING OF 1955, A WEDDING WAS BEING PLANNED FOR THE FALL.

THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AT THE GRADUATION WAS DEAN RUSK, LATER TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE, BUT AT THE TIME, CHAIRMAN OF THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION.

>> Rusk: AT NO TIME HAVE COLLEGE GRADUATES BEEN OFFERED A MORE RICHLY DIVERSE AGENDA OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AND AT NO TIME HAVE THE STAKES BEEN HIGHER.

ONE THING CAN BE SAID WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE TO THE CLASS OF '55: YOUR ELDERS HAVE THOUGHTFULLY SAVED SOME INTERESTING PROBLEMS FOR YOU TO SOLVE.

SOLVE SOME OF THEM YOU WILL, WHILE CREATING FRESH ONES OF YOUR OWN.

>> Narrator: RUSK'S SPEECH WAS CERTAINLY A CALL TO ACTION, BUT THE MOST MEMORABLE WORDS HALL TOOK WITH HIM AS HE PREPARED TO LEAVE VANDERBILT WERE THOSE OF A PROFESSOR FROM THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL.

>> John Hall: HE SAID THAT "NOW, YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO GO BE THE CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY· >> Narrator: NOT LONG AFTER GRADUATING, JOHN HALL BEGAN WORKING FOR ESSO, ONE OF THE LARGEST PETROLEUM AND PETROCHEMICAL ENTERPRISES IN THE WORLD.

AMERICA NEEDED OIL TO FUEL ITS BOOMING ECONOMY, AND ESSO WAS THE NUMBER ONE PROVIDER.

HALL'S SALARY WAS $400 A MONTH.

THE FUTURE SEEMED BRIGHT FOR THE NEWLYWEDS JOHN AND ANN HALL.

THEN A PROBLEM AROSE THAT A SLIDE RULE AND NO AMOUNT OF HARD WORK COULD SOLVE: ANN HAD A PAIN IN HER HIP THAT WOULDN'T GO AWAY.

THE WORLD SUDDENLY LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT TO THE YOUNG COUPLE.

>> John Hall: SO WE WENT TO THE DOCTOR.

HE EXAMINED HER.

I SAID "WELL, SIR, WHAT DO YOU THINK·?"

HE SAYS, "I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE HAS A BONE TUMOR IN THE PELVIC AREA, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING·" WE WENT OVER TO JOHNS HOPKINS, AND THEY DECIDED THAT THEY SHOULD OPERATE ON HER AND TRY TO REMOVE THE TUMOR, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'LL COME BACK, PROBABLY.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WE DID, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT I GUESS THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THE CHEMOTHERAPY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND SURGERY WAS THE ONLY SOLUTION.

SO, SHE WOULD GO IN, AND THEY WOULD REMOVE THE TUMORS THAT WERE THERE AT THE TIME AND THEN MAYBE WE COULD MAKE IT 6 OR 9 MONTHS BEFORE WE HAD TO DO IT AGAIN.

SO IT WAS NOT AN EASY THING FOR HER.

>> Jim Hall: IT WAS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

I THINK THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO WORK THROUGH AND MAKE THAT SITUATION THE BEST THEY COULD.

>> Narrator: ANN'S HEALTH SITUATION LED THE HALL'S TO CHANGE THEIR CAREER PATH.

WANTING TO BE CLOSER TO FAMILY IN TENNESSEE DURING THE HEALTH CRISIS, JOHN LEFT THE ESSO OPERATION IN BALTIMORE AND TOOK A JOB WITH ASHLAND OIL LOCATED IN ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

WHILE NOT A PETRO-GIANT, THE SIZE OF ESSO, ASHLAND OIL WAS A VERY PROSPEROUS COMPANY WHEN JOHN HALL JOINED IN 1957.

ESSO COULD TRACE ITS SUCCESS TO THE GENIUS OF JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER.

ASHLAND COULD TRACE IT'S TO PAUL BLAZER.

UNDER BLAZER, ASHLAND HAD BECOME THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT OIL COMPANY IN THE U.S.

ANNUAL SALES WERE OVER $300 MILLION.

BLAZER OBVIOUSLY KNEW HOW TO BUILD A BOTTOM LINE, BUT HE WAS ALSO BEING APPLAUDED FOR HIS EMPHASIS ON CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP.

IN 1955, HE HAD BEEN HONORED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMONWEALTH, BEING NAMED KENTUCKIAN OF THE YEAR BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

>> James Klotter, Kentucky State Historian: HE WAS GOOD IN MARKETING, HE WAS GOOD IN MATHEMATICS, HE USED THOSE TWO THINGS VERY WELL IN HIS BUSINESS.

BUT HE ALSO WAS VERY GOOD IN KEEPING PEOPLE HAPPY AT HIS PLANT.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DID WAS TO RAISE WAGES.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BUT HE DID, AND HE ALSO REDUCED WORKING HOURS.

HE ENCOURAGES UNIONIZATION, UNUSUAL FOR A BUSINESSMAN AT THAT TIME TO DO.

AND HE ALSO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE IN THE NATION TO HAVE PROFIT SHARING FOR HIS COMPANY, AND HE GIVES PAID LEAVE TIME.

SO HE'S VERY PROGRESSIVE IN THOSE WAYS AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.

>> Klotter: ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF ASHLAND OIL HAS BEEN THE FAMILY CONNECTIONS THERE· SINCE THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS AND YOU'RE PART OF THE FAMILY AND PART OF KENTUCKY'S FAMILY AS WELL· SO THE TWO GO TOGETHER.

I THINK THEY SAW THAT ASHLAND OIL COULD BE A BETTER PLACE IF KENTUCKY IS A BETTER PLACE.

>> Narrator: JOHN HALL STARTED AT ASHLAND AS ASSISTANT TO THE COORDINATOR OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

HIS PAY HAD RISEN TO $480 A MONTH.

DESCRIBED AS A "DEMON AT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS," HE CAUGHT THE EYE OF PAUL BLAZER.

IT WAS GOOD TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE BOSS AS LONG AS ONE UNDERSTOOD THIS BOSS HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

>> James Klotter, Kentucky State Historian: HE WAS DEFINITELY A HARD-WORKING MAN AND HE EXPECTED HIS PEOPLE UNDER HIM TO WORK JUST AS HARD AS HE DID, IF NOT HARDER.

THAT WAS PART OF HIS MANTRA AS WELL.

I THINK THE THING ABOUT BLAZER IS THAT, HE SET THE EXAMPLE FOR THE PEOPLE UNDER HIM TO WORK, AND IF YOU WORKED HARD, YOU MOVED UP IN THE COMPANY.

THE COMPANY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER IN ITS HIGH LEVEL MANAGEMENT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF THE COMPANY.

>> Narrator: JOHN HALL LEARNED A LOT FROM PAUL BLAZER.

THE LESSONS COULD BE CHALLENGING.

>> John Hall: HE MIGHT CALL ME UP AND SAY, "THE GUYS IN THE CATALYTIC CRACKING SECTION IN THE REFINERY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT."

HE SAYS, "WOULD YOU CALL THEM UP AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK AND LET ME KNOW?"

HE WANTED YOU TO GIVE HIM A QUICK AND ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON· >> Narrator: HALL LEARNED QUICKLY IT WAS NOT A 9-5 SORT OF JOB· >> Hall: HE MIGHT CALL YOU UP AT ONE IN THE MORNING IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

>> Narrator: IN 1965, HALL WAS NAMED EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO BLAZER.

IT WAS A POSITION BLAZER USED TO PREPARE UP AND COMING EXECUTIVES FOR THE HIGHEST POSITIONS IN THE COMPANY.

HALL RELISHED THE OPPORTUNITY OF LEARNING FIRST-HAND FROM THE MAN WHO HAD BUILT ASHLAND.

>> Hall: I WOULD SAY HE WAS A TOUGH TASKMASTER BUT A NICE ONE.

>> Narrator: LIKE HIS MENTOR, JOHN HALL EMBRACED THE NOTION OF COMPANY AS FAMILY AND THE GREAT STABILITY THAT COULD COME WITH IT.

IN HIS OWN FAMILY, HE AND WIFE ANN EXPERIENCED THE MIRACLE OF A NEWBORN, ADOPTING A SON THEY NAMED JOHN, JAY FOR SHORT, IN 1971.

HOWEVER, THE JOY OF THIS OCCASION WAS DIMMED BY ANN'S CONTINUED BATTLE WITH HER RECURRING CANCER.

IT WAS A BATTLE SHE WOULD LOSE AT THE AGE OF 40 IN 1972.

>> Jim Hall: WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, THAT WAS DEVASTATING, · TO HAVE THE WOMAN HE LOVED, AND TO LOSE HER · IT WAS A CHALLENGING TIME AND VERY DIFFICULT TIME TO TALK ABOUT.

>> Narrator: IN THE AFTERMATH OF ANN'S DEATH, HALL IMMERSED HIMSELF IN HIS WORK.

HIS MOTHER AND FATHER MOVED TO ASHLAND TO HELP HIM CARE FOR HIS YOUNG SON JAY.

HALL'S INCREASING RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE COMPANY CALLED ON HIM TO TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY.

IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT CHANGE.

>> Narrator: BY 1979, HALL HAD BECOME VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF REFINING.

THE POSITION DEMANDED SKILLS THAT WENT WELL BEYOND THE ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES TAUGHT 25 YEARS EARLIER IN THE VANDY CLASSROOMS.

DURING THOSE STUDENT DAYS, HE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE FORESEEN GOING TO IRAN TO SALVAGE AN OIL DEAL WITH THE RECENTLY INSTALLED REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT OF THE AYATOLLAH KHOMENI.

HOWEVER, AS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF CRUDE OIL PURCHASING, THAT IS WHAT HE WAS CALLED UPON TO DO.

>> Hall: SO THE WHOLE APPEARANCE OF THE PLACE WAS TERRIBLE.

THEY HAD PEOPLE IN THE STREETS PUSHING OVER CARS, FIGHTING, ALMOST NO WOMEN WORKING IN THE OFFICE BUILDINGS.

JUST A MEAN SORT OF ATMOSPHERE· YOU WEREN'T SURE YOU'D GET OUT SAFELY WAS ONE THING.

>> Narrator: BUT BUSINESS WAS BUSINESS, AND CRUDE OIL WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY SO NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN.

WE WERE DEALING WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS WE DEALT WITH BEFORE, AND IT TOOK US AWHILE TO GET ALL THE POINTS DOWN.

AND THEN I SAID WELL I GUESS WE OUGHT TO TYPE THIS THING UP SO WE CAN ALL LOOK AT IT.

AND THEY SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY HERE WHO CAN TYPE.

BUT THEY DID HAVE AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING FELLOW THERE AND HE SAID WELL I CAN WRITE IT IN ENGLISH IF IT'S OK WITH MY SUPERIORS HERE.

AND THEY SAID FINE, SO HE WROTE THE CONTRACT UP IN ENGLISH, AND WE ALL INITIALED IT, ETC.

THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE'VE DONE A CONTRACT LIKE THAT.

> Harry Wiley, Ashland Communications: WHEN I JOINED ASHLAND IN 1969, IT HAD JUST GOTTEN TO BE A BILLION DOLLAR SALES COMPANY.

FROM THEN ON, IT SEEMED TO BE THAT I HAD JUMPED INTO A COMPANY THAT WAS ON THIS ROLL.

I MEAN, IT WAS GROWING AND GROWING·.

>> Narrator: THE GROWTH AT ASHLAND REFLECTED MANY OF THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN THE OVERALL CORPORATE LANDSCAPE.

PAUL BLAZER WHO HAD DIED IN 1966 MIGHT NOT HAVE RECOGNIZED SOME OF THE NEW REALITIES.

>> Dan Lacy, Ashland VP of Communications: THE ARAB OIL EMBARGO AND LONG LINES AT GASOLINE STATIONS, AND THE RAPIDLY INCREASING COST OF ENERGY CHANGED EVERYTHING.

AND IT PUT MANAGEMENT OF LOTS OF COMPANIES IN TURMOIL, INCLUDING THAT OF ASHLAND OIL, AT THAT TIME... I THINK ALL OF THAT LED Mr.

ATKINS WHO WAS THEN OUR CHAIRMAN AND CEO TO DESPERATELY SEEK, TRYING TO CHANGE THE COMPANY, MAKE ACQUISITIONS, MOVE INTO THINGS THAT WERE NEW AND DIFFERENT, BORROW A LOT OF MONEY, AND ALL OF THAT HAD TO BE DEALT WITH· >> Narrator: ATKINS' AGGRESSIVE APPROACH DID GROW THE COMPANY, REPERCUSSIONS BOTH WITHIN ASHLAND AND WITHOUT.

BY 1981, THE ASHLAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECIDED THERE NEEDED TO BE A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

THE PERSON TAPPED TO TAKE OVER WAS JOHN HALL.

IT WAS A POPULAR MOVE WITHIN THE COMPANY, BUT INDUSTRY ANALYSTS WEREN'T SO SURE... >> Reporter: JOHN R. HALL, A PLEASANT, BUSHY-BROWED 48 YEAR OLD TEXAS NATIVE WILL TAKE THE REINS OF A TROUBLED CORPORATION IN OCTOBER.

THE COMPANY'S EARNINGS ARE SLUMPING BADLY; DOWN 73%... FOR THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF THE YEAR·.

IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW HALL, A CHEMICAL ENGINEER BY TRAINING WILL RESPOND TO THOSE PROBLEMS."

>> Narrator: HALL'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM WAS STRAIGHT-FORWARD: BUILD A GOOD TEAM AND GET ASHLAND BACK TO BASICS.

>> Margaret Thomson, Ashland Communications: TOM WOLFE WROTE A BOOK CALLED "THE RIGHT STUFF" AND IT WAS ABOUT THE ORIGINAL 7 APOLLO ASTRONAUTS.

AND THE THING THAT I REMEMBER ABOUT THAT BOOK IS THAT THEY WOULD ALWAYS WORK THE PROBLEM, AND NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF A QUANDARY THAT THEY GOT IN, THEY WOULD CONTINUE WORKING THE PROBLEM, AND THAT'S VERY MUCH LIKE JOHN.

JOHN WORKS THE PROBLEM, AND HE'S NOT THE PERSON OUT THERE WHO'S FLAMBOYANT OR HAS A BIG PERSONALITY, BUT HE'S THE PERSON WHO CAN GET TO THE ANSWERS AND GET TO THE RESOLUTIONS.

>> Narrator: THE INDUSTRIAL BIOGRAPHER JEFF RODENGEN HAS CHRONICLED THE INNER WORKINGS OF MANY OF AMERICA'S TOP CORPORATIONS.

AS HE EXAMINED THE HISTORY OF ASHLAND DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME OF TRANSITION, HE BECAME AN ADMIRER OF JOHN HALL.

>> Jeff Rodengen: IN MY CAREER, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW OVER 10,000 SENIOR PEOPLE IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY AND GLOBAL INDUSTRY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE THAT I THOUGHT MORE OF THAN JOHN HALL FOR HIS INTEGRITY, FOR HIS HONESTY, FOR HIS QUICK THINKING, AND FOR HIS ABILITY TO BRING A TEAM TOGETHER SO THAT THEY ALL WERE HAPPY TO BE DOING THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Lacy: JOHN DOESN'T FILL UP A ROOM WHEN HE FIRST WALKS IN, BUT HE FILLS UP A ROOM THE LONGER HE'S IN IT.

A SUPERIOR LEADER CAN FIND A PATH WHEN ONE DOESN'T SEEM TO EXIST.

AND JOHN WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO DO THAT.

I THINK HE DID IT BY GATHERING INTELLIGENCE, BY LISTENING, AND THEN STRUCTURING COLLABORATION OUT OF THAT DIALOGUE.

AND PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO FOLLOW HIM.

>> Narrator: THE BACK-TO-BASICS APPROACH INSTITUTED BY HALL IS NEEDED, BUT IT COMES WITH SOME PAIN.

IN 1984, ASHLAND HAD A NET LOSS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THE FIRST IN THE COMPANY'S HISTORY.

NEVERTHELESS, STOCK ANALYSTS AND SHAREHOLDERS FELT ASSURED THE COMPANY IS BACK ON THE RIGHT COURSE.

IN THESE TRYING EARLY DAYS AS CEO, HALL HAD A NEW ASSET IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE.

A FEW YEARS EARLIER A MUTUAL FRIEND HAD ARRANGED FOR HIM TO MEET DONNA STOUFFER WHILE HE WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP IN CHICAGO.

>> Donna Hall: IT WAS LIKE 5 O'CLOCK OR SOMETHING AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM WORK, AND SHE SAID - "OH THIS FRIEND OF OURS IS COMING TO TOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND I NEED YOU TO GO TO DINNER WITH US TONIGHT."

AND I SAID "REALLY, SORRY, TOO LATE," AND SHE SAID, "NO JUST THE FOUR OF US GOING OUT TO DINNER, IT'S NOT REALLY A DATE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST THE FOUR OF US GOING OUT FOR DINNER,".

AND THAT'S HOW IT ALL STARTED, AND OF COURSE WHEN WE FIRST MET, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH INSTANTANEOUS, THE RAPPORT BETWEEN THE TWO OF US.

>> Narrator: DUE TO HALL'S FRENETIC TRAVEL SCHEDULE, THE COURTSHIP PROVED TO BE SPORADIC BUT HALL DID GET AROUND TO PROPOSING· IN HIS OWN UNIQUE WAY.

Donna Hall: (LAUGHS) WELL, IT ALMOST WASN'T A PROPOSAL.

WE HAD SORT OF SKIRTED, CHATTING AROUND ABOUT YOU KNOW, MARRIAGE AND THAT SORT OF THING· AS WE WERE DRIVING ALONG HE SAID, "WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CALL THE RECTOR".

AND I SAID, "CALL THE RECTOR?"

AND HE SAID, "YES AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE DATE."

I SAID, "ARE YOU ASKING ME TO MARRY YOU (LAUGHS)?"

AND HE SAID, "YES."

AND SO THAT WAS IT.

I MEAN WE WENT FORWARD.

AND I CHATTED WITH MY RECTOR OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH THAT I ATTENDED IN CHICAGO, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THESE THREE SESSIONS THAT THEY TALK TO YOU ABOUT MARRIAGE AND LIFE TOGETHER AND ALL OF THAT.

AND I SAID, "THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK, WE HAD THE WORST TIME TRYING TO FIND A DATE THAT HE WOULD BE IN THE COUNTRY FOR US TO EVEN GET MARRIED."

AND HE SAID, "WELL I'M SORRY THIS IS THE RULE."

AND SOMEHOW, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW, VANDERBILT CAME UP IN THE CONVERSATION.

WHEN IT DID, HE SAID, "HE WENT TO VANDERBILT?"

AND I SAID, "YES".

AND HE SAID, "WELL I DID TOO AND I AM SURE HE IS JUST FINE, THIS WILL WORK, WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH THE DATES."

SO THAT WAS HOW IT HAPPENED· VANDERBILT TO THE RESCUE (LAUGHS).

>> Jim Hall: MY BROTHER HAD DATED SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS, SOME OF WHICH MY MOTHER APPROVED OF AND SOME OF WHICH SHE DIDN'T.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT WHEN DONNA CAME ALONG THAT THERE WAS A SPARK THERE THAT I WAS HAPPY TO SEE, EVERYBODY THAT KNEW MY BROTHER WAS HAPPY TO SEE.

>> Harry Wiley: DONNA HALL IS JUST THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO HIM.

THEY WERE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER.

THEY MAKE A REALLY GREAT TEAM.

THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER SO WELL.

>> Dan Lacy: THE TWO OF THEM MATCHED PERFECTLY.

SO SHE ALWAYS, SHE ALWAYS WAS A BIG ATTRIBUTE TO THE COMPANY, AND TO JOHN.

>> Narrator: HALL'S TENURE AT THE HEAD OF ASHLAND BROUGHT WITH IT THE PERKS OF BEING OF A PERSON OF INFLUENCE, BUT OF COURSE THE ROLE ALSO BROUGHT GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

>> Rodengen: JOHN HAD A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WHILE HE WAS THERE THAT REALLY SHOWED HIS METTLE, SHOWED HIS CHARACTER.

>> Narrator: ON JANUARY 2ND, 1988 AS DONNA AND JOHN HALL WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A BRIEF HOLIDAY VACATION JOHN RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO CALL HIS OFFICE.

>> John Hall: THE PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID WE HAD HAD A TANK OVERFLOW WITH DIESEL FUEL INTO THE MONONGAHELA RIVER·.

>> Narrator: HALL WAS ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS UNDER CONTROL.

THAT WAS FAR FROM THE ACTUAL SITUATION· >> Margaret Thompson: INITIALLY THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED AND WHAT EXACTLY WAS GOING ON BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS.

THERE WEREN'T CELL PHONES IN THOSE DAYS.

>> Narrator: AS THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION BECAME CLEAR, JOHN HALL IMMEDIATELY WENT TO PITTSBURGH TO MEET THE CRISIS HEAD ON.

>> John Hall: THE FURTHER I DUG, THE MADDER I GOT.

[ NETWORK NEWS STORY ] >> John Hall: EVERYWHERE I LOOKED, WE'D DONE SOMETHING WRONG!

>> ALL OF THIS IN THE WAKE OF THE WEEKEND'S MASSIVE OIL SPILL.

RICHARD ROTH LOOKS AT PENNSYLVANIA'S APPARENTLY UNSTOPPABLE OIL SLICK.

>> NOW STRETCHING 65 MILES AND STILL FLOWING DOWN RIVER, THE SIZE OF THIS SPILL IS OVERWHELMING EFFORTS TO CLEAN IT UP.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN TANKER ACCIDENTS AROUND THE WORLD AND ON OUR COASTS THAT HAVE BEEN BIGGER IN TERMS OF VOLUME, BUT AS AN INLAND SPILL, THIS MAY BE THE BIGGEST.

>> A SPOKESMAN SAID THE TANK WAS BEING LOADED WHEN IT FAILED BUT WHY IT FAILED IS NOT KNOWN.

>> Dan Lacy: THIS WASN'T A SMALL CRISIS, THE PITTSBURGH OIL SPILL, IT WAS A MAJOR CRISIS.

IT WAS THE LARGEST INLAND OIL SPILL IN U.S.

HISTORY.

WE WERE STILL TRYING TO GET ALL THE FACTS.

THE FACTS THAT WE HAD WERE NOT GOOD.

WE WERE TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> Narrator: THE ASHLAND CRISIS TEAM SCRAMBLED TO DEAL WITH THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE EMERGENCY AND THE PUBLIC OUTCRY RESULTING FROM IT.

>> WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT WATER SINCE ABOUT 2 O'CLOCK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

>> I CAN'T CLEAN ANYTHING UP.

I HAD TO GO OUT AND BUY PAPER PLATES, PAPER CUPS, TV DINNERS.

THE LIST GOES ON.

>> Harry Wiley: I THINK THE LAWYERS WERE CALLING THE SHOTS.

THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WAS WAITING TO BE TOLD WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AND JOHN HALL WENT UP THERE AND SAID, "IT'S OUR MISTAKE.

WE DID IT.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT"!

AND THE LAWYERS WENT "AW >> John Hall: WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND HALF OF PITTSBURGH SHOWED UP.

AND BASICALLY WE SAID, "THIS IS OUR FAULT".

>> ON BEHALF OF ASHLAND OIL, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PITTSBURGH AREA.

FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT.

THE COMPANY IS WORKING WITH ALL APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN AN EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE DAMAGE AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE ALSO ARE DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO ASSIST THE LOCAL WATER COMPANIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO RESTORE FULL SERVICE.

>> BUT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE, SOMEONE SAID, Mr.

HALL, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

AND I THOUGHT, "THAT'S ALWAYS A TRICKY QUESTION", SO I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED.

AND HE SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU ALWAYS WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO."

SO, THAT WAS NOT A TALKING POINT, THAT WAS JOHN, UNDER PRESSURE, IN THE MOMENT, SPEAKING FROM HIS HEART.

>> Narrator: IN THE END, THE COST TO THE ENVIRONMENT WAS CONSIDERABLE.

THE RESIDENTS IN THE PATH OF THE SPILL EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT STRESS, INCONVENIENCE AND VARYING DEGREES OF FINANCIAL LOSS.

ASHLAND WOUND UP BEING FINED $2.5 MILLION FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

THE COST FOR THE CLEANUP ITSELF WAS 40 MILLION DOLLARS.

DESPITE ALL THESE NEGATIVES, THE MANNER IN WHICH ASHLAND, LED BY HALL, RESPONDED TO THE CRISIS WON PRAISE.

>> Klotter: THE THING IS HE ADMITTED IT QUICKLY AND OPENLY AND WAS ACTUALLY PRAISED BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AND PAPERS LIKE THAT FOR HIS RESPONSE TO THAT.

ASHLAND OIL MAKES MISTAKES LIKE EVERY COMPANY DOES.

THE KEY THING IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR MISTAKES AND GO ON.

>> Narrator: JOHN HALL AND ASHLAND'S RESPONSE WAS SO EFFECTIVE, IT BECAME A CASE STUDY FOR THE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL.

HE WAS ALSO NAMED CRISIS MANAGER OF THE YEAR BY PITTSBURGH'S CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY.

HALL WAS PRAISED FOR EMBRACING THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT CAME WITH BEING A LEADING CORPORATE CITIZEN.

THIS MINDSET MOTIVATED HIM TO TAKE ON ANOTHER CRISES, ONE THAT WAS MANY DECADES OLD AND WORSENING EVERY YEAR.

>> Lacy: IN THE '80'S, EDUCATION WAS AT A CRISIS SITUATION.

>> Nick Zeppos: JOHN KNOWS THE POWER OF EDUCATION.

HE KNOWS THAT IF YOU EDUCATE A YOUNG PERSON, EDUCATE A PERSON, YOU'VE TRANSFORMED HER OR HIS LIFE.

AND YOU'VE DEVELOPED IN THEM A POTENTIAL THAT ALLOWS THEM TO LEAD A MUCH BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY AND SOCIETY.

>> Lacy: KENTUCKY'S DROPOUT RATE WAS HORRENDOUS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GRADUATION RATES WERE TERRIBLE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

WE DIDN'T KNOW, BUT WE HAD A SMALL ADVERTISING AND PR BUDGET FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND WE DECIDED, "LET'S TAKE THAT AND LET'S RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS ABOUT THIS SITUATION".

>> Narrator: THE ASHLAND CAMPAIGN TO ELEVATE EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY BECAME A STAPLE ON TELEVISION, RADIO AND IN PRINT.

THE ADS PRESENTED AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE, AND THEY CONVEYED A PHILOSOPHY THAT WOULD'VE MADE PAUL BLAZER NOD HIS HEAD IN AGREEMENT.

>> Wiley: PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK OF ASHLAND LIKE THEY THOUGHT OF EXXON, OR LIKE THEY THOUGHT OF SOME OTHER OIL COMPANY.

ASHLAND WAS THEIR NEIGHBOR BECAUSE ASHLAND BELIEVED IN THE SAME THING THEY DID: GOOD EDUCATION, GREAT TEACHERS.

>> Narrator: HALL KNEW IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS DATING BACK MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

IT WOULD TAKE A TEAM APPROACH.

>> Ginni Fox: JOHN AND DAVID JONES AND OZ NELSON, UPS, HUMANA AND ASHLAND INC., WERE SPEARHEADING THE DRIVE FOR TRANSFORMATION OF EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY, AND THEY SUCCEEDED, AND IT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND SERVED AS A MODEL FOR MANY, MANY OTHERS.

>> David Jones: WE CREATED SOMETHING CALLED THE PARTNERSHIP FOR KENTUCKY EDUCATION.

JOHN HALL AND OZ NELSON AND I INVITED TO JOIN US ANY GROUP THAT WE COULD THINK OF THAT HAD AN INTEREST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> Klotter: THE FACT THOSE BUSINESS LEADERS WERE IN FAVOR OF REFORM, IN FACT THEY WERE ABLE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE IN FAVOR OF IT, THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT THEIR RESOURCES BEHIND IT, ALL THOSE THINGS MEANT THAT THEY SAW IT AS IMPORTANT, AND THEIR VISION CAN THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE VISION THAT THE LEGISLATORS CAN ACCEPT.

>> Jones: IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME.

THE THREE OF US AGREED THAT WE WOULD GIVE 10 YEARS TO THAT EFFORT·.

WE ALL KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A LONG EFFORT, NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD SAY HELLO AND GOODBYE, AND IT WAS DONE.

IT WAS IMPORTANT, AND IT WAS FUN AND WORKING WITH JOHN HALL WAS ESPECIALLY WONDERFUL.

>> Narrator: HALL USED HIS BULLY PULPIT AS CEO TO SUPPORT OTHER IMPORTANT KENTUCKY INSTITUTIONS LIKE HISTORIC KEENELAND RACE COURSE.

HOWEVER WHEN THEN KEENELAND PRESIDENT TED BASSETT FIRST PRESENTED THE IDEA OF A CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP TO THE ASHLAND MARKETING TEAM, THE RESPONSE WAS MIXED.

>> Ted Bassett: ONE OF THE SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS SAID 'EXPLAIN TO US WHY ASHLAND SHOULD INVEST IN HORSE RACING WHEN OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS AUTOMOBILE RACING'.

>> Narrator: JOHN HALL RECOGNIZED THE VITAL ROLE OF HORSE RACING IN THIS STATE, AND FEW WEEKS LATER TED BASSETT GOT THE ANSWER FOR WHICH HE'D BEEN HOPING.

>> Bassett: SO WE JOINED FORCES TOGETHER AND WE HAD A PARTNERSHIP HERE AT KEENELAND THAT LASTED OVER 30 YEARS FOR WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL.

AND JOHN BECAME IN TIME A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE KEENELAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SO FORTUNATE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> Narrator: THROUGH HIS TIME AS ASHLAND CEO, HALL CONTINUALLY BROUGHT THE INFLUENCE OF HIS POSITION NOT TO MENTION HIS REMARKABLE FOCUS AND ENERGY TO MANY ENDEAVORS BENEFITTING THE COMMONWEALTH.

IN DOING SO, THERE WERE MANY OCCASIONS FOR SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS.

MARGARET THOMSON WORKED WITH HIM FOR 15 YEARS WRITING SPEECHES.

>> Thompson: HE ONCE SAID TO ME, WHEN I WAS DOING SPEECHES FOR HIM, AND I KIND OF WANTED TO BUILD THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT, HE SAID, "NO MARGARET, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

LET'S ACT, LET'S PERFORM AND THEN THE ACCOLADES WILL COME ON THEIR OWN.

JOHN LED ASHLAND THROUGH A SERIES OF GREAT CHALLENGES, AND THERE WAS A SPEECH THAT ROOSEVELT GAVE AND HE SAID "IT'S THE MAN IN THE ARENA AND IT'S NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, BUT IT'S THE MAN IN THE ARENA."

>> Narrator: IN 1996, IT WAS TIME FOR JOHN HALL TO LEAVE THE ARENA OF ASHLAND OIL AT THE AGE OF 64.

THE MEMORY OF HIS MANNER OF DEPARTING STILL BRINGS A SMILE TO THE FACES OF FORMER COLLEAGUES >> Dan Lacy: WELL, IT WAS PERFECT JOHN HALL.

JOHN WAS GOING TO LEAVE THAT DAY.

WE ALL KNEW THAT.

>> Thompson: THE HALLWAYS LOOKING OVER INTO THE ATRIUM WERE FILLED WITH PEOPLE, JUST COMPLETELY FILLED WITH PEOPLE.

>> Lacy: THE ELEVATOR DOOR OPENED IN THE LOBBY AND JOHN STEPPED INTO THE ATRIUM THERE WAS ALL THIS APPLAUSE FROM ALL THE EMPLOYEES· IT WAS A WARM MOMENT, AND SO HE SORT OF WAVED.

>> Thompson: AND THEN HE TURNED BACK AROUND AND HEADED FOR THE DOOR.

AND WHAT WAS REALLY A VERY TOUCHING MOMENT FOR ME HE WALKED OVER AND GAVE ME A HUG.

>> Lacy: AND PEOPLE WATCHED HIM GO, BECAUSE IT'S ALL GLASS, SO YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE GLASS YOU WATCH HIM GO OUT TO HIS CAR.

AND HE GETS OUT TO HIS CAR AND HE TURNS ONE LAST TIME TO WAVE AND STARTS TO GET IN HIS CAR AND HE'D FORGOTTEN HIS KEYS.

I MEAN, IT WAS HYSTERICAL.

HIS SECRETARY CAME RUNNING OF COURSE WITH HIS CAR KEYS, BUT YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST SO WARM AND FUNNY AND PERSONABLE AND HUMBLE, AND IT WAS JOHN.

WE LOVED IT.

>> Harry Wiley: IT WAS THE END OF AN ERA.

IT WAS THE END OF AN ASHLAND THAT HE HAD DEVELOPED, THE CULTURE THAT HE HAD BUILT AT THE COMPANY.

>> Margaret Thompson: HE WAS THE FACE OF ASHLAND AND IT WAS A FACE OF FAIRNESS, HONESTY AND COMPASSION.

>> Narrator: AS HE LEFT ASHLAND, THERE WERE ALSO OF COURSE MANY NOTES FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF WELL-WISHERS.

TWO OF THEM CAPTURE THE BREADTH OF HIS LEGACY.

PLEASE CONVEY MY WARMEST BEST WISHES TO JOHN HALL, CONGRATULATE HIM ON ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ASHLAND AND TELL HIM THAT BEING UNEMPLOYED AND RETIRED IS NOT A BAD STATUS AT ALL.

YOU SEE, THIS COMES FROM AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD.

GEORGE H.W.

BUSH >> DEAR Mr.

HALL- YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER ME, BUT I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO AND HAVE WORKED AT ASHLAND FOR 23 PLUS YEARS.

LET ME REPRESENT MANY OF THOSE "NAMELESS FACES" IN WISHING YOU WELL AND TELLING YOU WHY WE WILL MISS YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR JUST BEING YOU AND FOR MAKING THE COMMON FOLK FEEL SPECIAL TOO.

I KNOW THAT I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE IN SAYING THAT WE WILL SURELY MISS YOUR SMILING FACE AND YOUR KIND COMMENTS.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

YOUR FRIEND, SHERRY >> Narrator: ANYONE EXPECTING JOHN HALL TO EASE INTO THE SUNSET MUST NOT HAVE KNOWN HIM.

HIS LONG-TIME SECRETARY ROCKY LEE SAYS HE IS AN INVETERATE LIST-MAKER.

HE JOTS DOWN HIS PLANS IN STENOGRAPHER NOTEBOOKS SETTING GOALS, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AS WELL AS PERSONAL, FOR THE DAYS/WEEKS/MONTHS AHEAD.

BUT SOMETIMES THINGS DON'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN.

>> Donna: WE WERE JUST RETIRED A YEAR, AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE PLANNING ON DOING ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

CANCER WAS NOT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PLANNED IN THAT >> Narrator: IN 1998, DONNA HALL WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.

THE COUPLE WAS CONFRONTED BY AN OBSTACLE THAT COULDN'T BE SOLVED BY FORCE OF WILL ALONE.

INEVITABLY THERE WAS A SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS FOR JOHN AND THEN HE RESPONDED IN THE ONLY MANNER HE KNEW >> Donna: HE WAS THAT, HE IS A VERY POSITIVE, HAS VERY POSITIVE HIGH ENERGY AND HE WAS JUST A CONSTANT THROUGH THE ENTIRE TIME, JUST THERE FOR ME, ALL THE TIME.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ALWAYS THE CASE AND I WAS VERY, VERY FORTUNATE.

AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING JOURNEY, A VERY INTERESTING JOURNEY.

>> Narrator: AFTER SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT, THE HALL'S LIVES RETURNED TO A NEW NORMAL.

JOHN'S FOCUS CHANGED FROM DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS TO OTHER MATTERS.

>> Jeff Rodengen: JOHN HALL WAS RECRUITED TO SOME OF THE LARGEST BOARDS IN AMERICA·.

HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A LEADER OF AN INDEPENDENT BOARD LONG BEFORE IT WAS A POPULAR THING, AND SO WHEN OTHER BOARDS LOOKED FOR LEADERSHIP FROM AN OUTSIDE OR AN INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER, THE PHONE STARTED RINGING FOR JOHN.

>> Narrator: ONE PERSON CALLING WAS DAVID JONES, THE CO-FOUNDER OF HUMANA INC., AND HALL'S PARTNER IN EDUCATION REFORM.

>> David Jones: ENGINEERS BUILD THINGS.

ENGINEERS, THEY ARE VERY DATA-DRIVEN.

I THINK THAT ANALYTICAL ABILITY THAT JOHN HAS LEADS TO BETTER DECISIONS THAN MIGHT BE MADE BY SOMEONE WITHOUT THAT BACKGROUND.

BECAUSE OF JOHN'S INTEGRITY, BECAUSE OF HIS INDEPENDENCE, BECAUSE OF HIS BRILLIANCE, BECAUSE OF HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED FOR RELIABLE INFORMATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS MADE JOHN A VALUED DIRECTOR.

YOU COULD ALWAYS DEPEND ON JOHN TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

>> Mira Ball: THERE'S NO ONE LIKE JOHN HALL.

HE'S JUST A MARVELOUS MAN.

>> Narrator: MIRA BALL HAS SERVED ON SEVERAL BOARDS WITH JOHN HALL, INCLUDING THE BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WHICH HE LED.

>> Mira Ball: JOHN IS NOT HEAVY-HANDED.

HE TRIES TO BUILD CONSENSUS.

HE TRIES TO ANSWER EVERYONE'S QUESTIONS, BUT LET'S JUST SAY WHEN IT GETS TO AN IMPASSE, HE'S NOT AFRAID TO MAKE A DECISION AND BRING EVERYONE ELSE ALONG.

HE HAS A VERY GOOD LEADERSHIP STYLE.

>> Narrator: THESE TRAITS CITED BY DAVID JONES AND MIRA BALL WERE NEEDED WHEN HALL WAS NAMED INTERIM CHAIR OF THE BANC ONE BOARD IN 1999.

THEY WERE IN THE MIDST OF WHAT PROMISED TO BE A CONTENTIOUS MERGER WITH ANOTHER LARGE BANK, FIRST CHICAGO.

JOB ONE WAS TO FIND A NEW CEO.

HALL HAD SOMEONE IN MIND.

>> Jamie Dimon: HE BROUGHT ME THERE.

HE WAS THE KEY REASON WHY I WAS THERE.

HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE A BET ON ME, THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS· IT WAS VERY DIVIDED AT BANC ONE.

HALF HAD COME FROM FIRST CHICAGO, HALF HAD COME FROM BANC ONE.

LIKE A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS, THEY KIND OF WENT TO WAR WITH EACH OTHER.

>> Narrator: DIMON LEARNED QUICKLY HOW JOHN HALL LIKED TO OPERATE.

IT WAS THE SAME APPROACH HE HAD USED THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.

>> Dimon: ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, DO IT!

IT WASN'T FAVORITISM OR FRIENDSHIP.

IT WAS "THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO SO DO IT."

HE WAS QUITE STRONG ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE'D BE VERY METHODICAL ABOUT A KEY ISSUE.

HE'D GO SEE YOU, THINK IT THROUGH, GO SEE THE NEXT PERSON, THINK IT THROUGH, GO SEE THE NEXT PERSON.

AND IF IT WAS GOING TO TAKE EXTRA TIME, HE WOULD TAKE THE EXTRA TIME.

HE WOULDN'T RUSH TO DECISIONS, AND DEEP INTEGRITY.

IF YOU MET JOHN HALL, HE'S JUST A VERY SWEET MAN, BUT INSIDE THAT VERY SWEET MAN, HE'S KIND OF THE IRON FIST INSIDE OF THE VELVET GLOVE.

HE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

HE WILL NOT BE PUSHED AROUND, HE WON'T GIVE IN TO POLITICS, HE'LL FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT THINGS AND HE'LL MAKE GOOD PEOPLE CHOICES.

>> Narrator: THE PERSONNEL DECISION JOHN HALL MADE FOR BANC ONE TURNED OUT WELL.

JAMIE DIMON HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL FIGURES IN WORLD FINANCIAL CIRCLES.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, JOHN HALL HAS TURNED HIS TALENTS TO OTHER ENDEAVORS.

>> Ginni Fox: WHEN MR.

HALL LEADS A GROUP, WHETHER IT'S A CORPORATION, A DRIVE FOR KERA, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY OR THE COMMONWEALTH ENDOWMENT FOR KET, Mr.

HALL'S ONLY AGENDA IS THE HIGHEST ARTICULATION OF THAT INSTITUTIONS MISSION.

HE IS STILL THE MOST SELFLESS, HUMBLE, CORPORATE OR GOVERNMENT LEADER BARRING NONE THAT I'VE EVER MET, AS WELL AS BEING THE MOST SKILLED.

>> Narrator: THE SKILL SOMETIMES TRANSFERS TO THE GOLF COURSE WHERE JOHN SPENDS SOME TIME WITH OLD TEAMMATES FROM VANDERBILT.

HE NOW LIVES PART OF THE YEAR IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WHERE HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE CONTINUES.

HE AND DONNA ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OF THE CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> Rob MOher: WELL, JOHN AND DONNA DON'T DO ANYTHING HALFWAY.

JOHN JOINED THE BOARD ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO AND IMMEDIATELY UPON HIS ARRIVAL ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BECAME DEEPLY INVOLVED AND INTERESTED IN, PARTICULARLY THE WATER ISSUES AND THE EVERGLADES ISSUE.

I THINK THIS IS HIS REAL PASSION JOHN IS A QUINTESSENTIAL PROBLEM SOLVER, HIS SKILLS AND EXPERTISE, IN PARTICULAR WHEN WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH NEW FORMS OF OIL EXTRACTION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SO I THINK I WOULD FOCUS IN A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT JOHN'S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY INVALUABLE TO THE CONSERVANCY.

>> Nick Zeppos: I THINK JOHN IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, HE WAS BORN WITH HIS GIVING SHOES ON AND HE JUST GIVES BACK.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IF HE WON THE LOTTERY HE'D GIVE ME THE TICKET.

I THINK PEOPLE LIKE JOHN, HE WOULD SAY WELL VANDERBILT CHANGED MY LIFE, I'D SAY JOHN YOU CHANGED VANDERBILT'S.

>> Narrator: MOST ANY SATURDAY IN THE FALL WILL FIND JOHN HALL CHEERING ON HIS BELOVED COMMODORES.

WATCHING A GAME WITH HALL IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

>> David Williams: WHILE HE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR ATHLETICS, IT'S FOR WHAT ATHLETICS CAN DO IN A POSITIVE SENSE.

NOT ONLY IS HE OUR NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER BUT HE'S ALSO MAKING SURE WE TOW THE LINE AND WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT OUR GOALS AND MISSION SHOULD BE.

THE ONE THING ABOUT THE HALLS, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU.

BACK IN OCTOBER WHEN I GOT SICK AND I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT REACHED OUT TO MY WIFE AND TO ME WERE JOHN AND DONNA HALL.

AND THEY CALLED ALL OF THE TIME AND 'HOW ARE YOU DOING?'

'ANYTHING WE CAN DO?'.

THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE.

AS THEY ALWAYS TELL ME 'WE'RE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY.'

AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT.

THEY MEAN IT.

>> Narrator: THESE DAYS JOHN HALL KEEPS FILLING NOTEBOOKS WHILE TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS.

HE HAS REACHED A TIME IN HIS LIFE WHERE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION KEEP COMING.

HE IS GRATEFUL BUT PREFERS TO LOOK AHEAD.

HE IS SEARCHING FOR IDEAS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR YET ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE, TO SOLVE A PROBLEM, TO LEAD THE GOOD FIGHT.

>> Narrator: TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS· A GENERATION OF ASHLAND EMPLOYEES AND SHAREHOLDERS· CANCER PATIENTS AND THOSE RESEARCHING CURES·.

GOVERNORS SCHOLARS·.

ATHLETES·.

LOVERS OF THE ARTS.

ALL THESE KENTUCKIANS ARE BENEFICIARIES OF THE VISION OF ONE MAN-A HUMBLE MAN, BORN IN TEXAS, RAISED IN TENNESSEE BUT NOW FOREVER, THE KENTUCKY COMMODORE.