Ageless Dreamer Foundation Trustee, Fred Hall, named Rochester Citizen of Year

Posted: March 15, 2007

Mar 12, 2007

By ADAM D. KRAUSS

Copywrite used with permission from Fosters Daily Democrat

Rochester Citizen of Year, Business Leader honored

ROCHESTER — After receiving their awards Saturday night, the citizen and business leader of the year encouraged residents to get involved.

For Citizen of the Year Fred Hall, whose law, political, military and community service career has spanned nearly seven decades, staying involved means working with the Rotary Club to provide all city third graders with dictionaries, a local initiative he founded.

Volunteerism "is the lifeblood of our country. It's the people who are performing public service that make our country go," he said.

For Business Leader of the Year Mark Hourihane, a city native and longtime real estate agent involved in numerous community-betterment functions, the downtown Main Street effort demonstrates there's a newfound "electricity" pushing residents to improve the city.

"You can't buy it. You have to have it from within," he said.

The men were presented with the prestigious awards at Saturday night's Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce "Fire & Ice" annual dinner, dance and awards banquet at the New England Center at the University of New Hampshire, an elegant setting for the black tie affair.

Standing ovations greeted the award recipients, who both expressed surprise and humility to the crowd, which numbered 245 by the center's count.

Hall joined the party by speakerphone from a soon-to-lose vacation in Florida. "As you inch toward Boston Post cane you don't expect things like this to happen to you," he said, referring to the gilded canes traditionally given to communities' oldest residents.

Hourihane said he "felt very privileged to be standing here to accept this award that I don't feel I deserve, but I'll accept it."

Hourihane, 54, is a partner at Hourihane, Cormier & Associates Realtors, where he's been since 1998 with Bill Cormier following a restructuring at Kendall Real Estate.

"Under Mark's leadership, Hourihane, Cormier & Associates Realtors has grown to be one of the most successful and respected real estate agencies in the area with 25 real estate agents," said Chamber President Laura Ring in introductory remarks.

Hourihane's work ethic — having "strong morals and being a man of your word" — was instilled by his parents, Stephen, a shoe shop worker, and Carrie, Giguere said.

Cormier said Hourihane has provided unending support over the years. "I always consider him the older brother even though I'm the older one," he said.

Hourihane's service to the community is broad, including: president and board member of the local chapter of the American Heart Association; member and chairman of the board at Frisbie Memorial Hospital, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Strafford County YMCA.

He's also a commissioner of the Rochester Housing Authority, member of the Rochester Rotary Club and the Strafford County Board of Realtors.

Hourihane volunteers with the Chamber, Rochester Main Street and Opera House.

Hall came to Rochester in 1948, when he was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar Association in the 28th year of his life. He went to work with the Cooper-Hall-Cooper law firm, where he stayed until it disbanded in 1999. He still practices probate matters today from his South Main Street office.

Former State Police director Col. Paul O'Leary recalled trying a case against Hall, now a close friend, in Rochester municipal court in 1953. He described Hall as a quiet, unassuming man who knew when to be assertive.

"If you were to describe Fred in a single word, then genuine would suffice," O'Leary said.

Hall twice received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Oak Leaf Cluster. He went from serving with the UNH Reserve Officers' Training Corps to participating as a platoon leader in three major invasions in World War II, including at the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Hall's dedication to public service is extensive, with stints as city and county attorney, state executive councilor, chairman of UNH's board of trustees, president of the state bar association, a member of the prison board of trustees, as civilian aide to the secretary of the Army and chairman of the Ageless Dreamer Foundation.

Hall's volunteer list goes on, and he has been recognized numerous times for his service. He is a member of the ROTC at UNH Hall of Fame, was awarded the Good Scout award by the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts and received the Army's outstanding civilian service medal and was honored for being a distinguished member of the 16th Infantry Regiment.

Hall's grandson, Blake McGurty, was present to receive the award.

"That's the thing about my grandfather," McGurty said before leaving. "All of these accomplishments that were listed tonight — I've never heard about from him. He likes to lend a helping hand, I guess you can say, but he's never one to expect anything in return."

The event, underwritten by Frisbie Memorial Hospital and Public Service of New Hampshire, featured music by The Attractions, a full band that kept people dancing throughout the night, some more than others.

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