Portales native killed in train collision

Beverly Hall's voice cracked as she tried to find the words to describe her husband's character.

John Hall

"There's no words to describe what an amazing man he was," she said. "He loved God so much and that carried over into his love for his family. He always had integrity in everything that he did."

John Hall, a train engineer with Union Pacific Railroad, was one of three men killed in a train accident Sunday in Oklahoma when two trains collided.

Hall was born in Clovis and graduated from Portales High School in 1981.

Hall was married to the former Beverly Banks, a Portales native, for 30 years.

The couple left Portales, where Hall worked as a welder, more than 15 years ago.

Friends and family piled into Beverly Hall's home in Channing, Texas, on Monday and Tuesday to offer support to her and her two children, Breanna, 20, and John, 18, who is a senior in high school.

"You just couldn't believe the outpouring of love we have received," Beverly said. "Everywhere John went, he impacted somebody. The house has been filled with people the last two days and they have had nothing but nice things to say about him."

Hall's friends and family described him as a man who continuously put others before himself.

Beverly Hall reminisced Tuesday afternoon, recalling memories from her husband taking a sick neighbor to the hospital in the middle of the night after an 18-hour work day to saving a man's life by pulling him from beneath a large cattle guard.

"He always did what was right," she said. "If someone called on him, he would be there for them."

She said her husband's most defining qualities were his love for God and his family.

"He gave 100 percent as a worker, as a father and husband and as a Christian," said fellow railroad engineer Regan Mead. "If John was doing something, it was going to be done right. He was a man of his word, so if he said he was going to do it, it would be done."

Beverly's mother, Darlene Banks, returned home to Portales Tuesday after two days with her daughter.

"He loved people and he would do anything for anyone," Banks said through tears as she talked about her son-in-law. "I don't know anyone who knew John and he didn't bless them. I'm sure if you ask anyone who knew him, they would say the exact same thing."

Banks said she would be returning to Channing immediately for Hall's services, which are to be held Friday.

"He loved to joke with people and loved to play practical jokes," said Hall's sister-in-law, Janet Herbert of Portales. "He would always make you laugh. There's been so much storytelling the last two days and it all ends in laughter."