Rev. Mark Hail

Rev. Mark Duane Hail
(October 1, 1934 - June 29, 2010)

U.S. Veteran Rev. Mark Duane Hail, son of the late Charles L. and Helen Phelps Hail, was born in Somerset, Kentucky on October 1, 1934, and departed this life on June 29, 2010.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Burton Hail, whom he married on September 1, 1961; by his only child, his son Dr. Michael Wayne Hail and his wife Charlotte B. Hail; and two grandchildren, Sarah Ann Hail and Michael Allen Charles Hail. He is also survived by several brothers and sisters, including Charles E. Hail (and Lerleen), Edith Hail Baugh (and Virthel), Bert E. Hail (and Rita), Walter D. Hail (and Carolyn), Terry Hail and Connie Hail Merrick. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Elbert Morris, Eugene, Charles D., James, and Roy Lee.

Mark was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the United States Navy from 1955 through 1959. He was awarded the China service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He later served as the Chaplain of the American Legion Post 38 in Somerset.

Mark graduated from Somerset High School in 1953. Mark is an alumnus of Lindsey Wilson College, the University of Kentucky and Campbellsville University, where he received his Bachelor degree in business with a minor in accounting. He taught school in the Somerset Independent City Schools for thirty years. After he retired in 1988, he joined the Retired Teachers Association and served as their president in 1989. Mr. Hail was elected to two terms on the Somerset Independent Schools Board of Education. In 1990, he was elected as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Somerset Independent School System. In addition to his career as an educator, Mark was a farmer in the Dabney community for 12 years and he worked as a real estate agent with Gosser Real Estate for twenty years.

Mark was a member of the Board of Directors of the Somerset Pulaski County Development Foundation. Mark was an elected official in Somerset and very active in politics throughout his life. Mark was elected to three terms as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Pulaski County. He served as county campaign chair for numerous Republican officials, including, President George H.W. Bush, and Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning, and Congressman Hal Rogers. He was a member of the Republican Lincoln Club and served as an area Vice President for the city of Somerset for twenty years. He was a Republican precinct officer for over twenty years. He was a Kentucky Colonel and active in many civic organizations. Mark was ordained a minister in the Southern Baptist Church in 1983. Thereafter, Mark served as pastor of churches in Pulaski County. These included King Bee, Floyd Switch, Bethany, Eden, and most recently First Baptist Church of Mt. Victory. Before becoming a pastor, Mark was ordained a deacon, taught Sunday School and served on church committees.

Mark was an avid sportsman. He was a member of the Somerset Briar Jumper Baseball team in high school, as well as playing football and track and field. Later, he was an accomplished bowler and golfer. He served as the Secretary-Treasurer for the Lake Cumberland Men's Bowling Association for over twenty years. He enjoyed bowling tournaments and league bowling. He was inducted into Lake Cumberland Bowler's Hall of Fame in 2004. Golfing was his favorite activity, and he was a member of Somerset Country Club where he regularly played golf. He won numerous tournaments and awards, including the Hal Rogers Golf Tournament, the Pulaski Baptist Brotherhood Golf Tournament, the Pulaski Republican Golf Scramble, and the Burnside Island Golf Championship.

Friends and family may pay their respects for Mark beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Pulaski Funeral Home on Thursday, July 1, 2010 and from 9 am until noon on Friday July 2, 2010 at the First Baptist Church. His funeral will be at 1 pm on Friday July 2, 2010. Funeral services will be at the First Baptist Church, Somerset, Kentucky, with the Reverend Malcolm Cheek and the Reverend David Aker officiating, with burial at Lake Side Memorial Gardens. Pall bearers will be Michael Daulton, Keith Sloan, George Flynn, Ralph Troxtell, Richard Halloran and Rick Gosser.

Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Post # 38.

The family requested in lieu of flowers that donations be directed to the Hail Family Foundation to support college scholarships for students from Somerset. Pulaski Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of all arrangements for Rev. Mark Hail.