Gary Hall, Sr.

Gary Hall, Sr. (born August 7 1951 in Fayetteville, North Carolina) is an American ophthalmologist who practiced in Phoenix, Arizona who became famous during the late 1960s and the 1970s, as an Olympic swimmer for the United States.

Hall first went to represent the United States in the 1968 Olympic Games held at Mexico City, Mexico. Two years later he broke the world record in the 200 m butterfly.

His undergraduate swimming occurred at Indiana University where he specialized in the individual medley. Hall was elected captain of the swimming team in his senior year. In academics, Hall excelled in the classroom and was consistently cited by the NCAA as an outstanding example of student-athlete. He was accepted for medical school at the University of Cincinnati.

At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, terrorism hit him close, as these were the games of the Munich Massacre. Nevertheless, he earned a silver medal during those games. His final Olympic appearance was at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Hall made it a point to vigorously exercise in the swimming pool after daily med-school classes. His wife, the former Mary Keating, being from a swimming family, understood his love of the water. In the Montreal closing ceremonies, his fellow athletes from all sports disciplines, nominated and elected him to carry the American flag in the closing ceremonies.

In 1981, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Later on, he also became a local celebrity in Phoenix, as an ophthalmologist. He himself appears at his office's television ads, and he also appears on his office's billboard campaigns.

His son, Gary Hall, Jr., has become a famous Olympic swimmer as well, starting in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, getting various gold medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. With his son's participation at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, the Halls became the first pair of father and son to make three Olympic appearances. (See also Pat McCormick and daughter Kelly for making consequtive Olympic Diving competitions - 1952/56 and 1984/88).

He previously owned Gary Hall Laser Eye Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Due to repeated infractions relating to patient care and medical record keeping, Hall, Sr. was permanently barred by the Arizona Medical Board from practicing surgery. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2005/04/11/daily60.html Ophthalmologist banned from eye surgery - Phoenix Business Journal: ] ] [ [http://azdocinfo.com/Pressnew/viewer.asp?pressid=16 azdocinfo.com ] ]

Along with business partner, Renee Ressler, he developed a line of sunglasses for children called FrubiShades, which are sold online and in retail stores nationwide.

He currently lives in Florida and helps his son, Gary Hall, Jr., run the Race Club.

He is the son-in-law of ill-famed financier Charles H. Keating Jr. and brother-in-law to ill-famed financier Charles H. Keating, III.

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