Francis Harold (Hal) Barron, born on April 15, 1933 in Lake Jackson, Texas, passed away on March 19, 2018 in Carmel, Indiana. Hal graduated from University of Houston in 1955 and received his MS in Education at Butler University in 1973. He was a pioneer in the television industry, working behind the camera at the country’s first educational television station, KUHT. He continued his career as a television producer/director at KTVI in St. Louis.  His career brought him to Indiana when he became the News Producer at WFBM (now WRTV), then WISH-TV as a Television Production Manager. He supervised extensive coverage of the Indianapolis 500 at both stations. Hal was distinguished for directing President Lyndon Johnson’s speech at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis as well as V.P. Hubert Humphrey’s visit to the George Rodgers Clark Memorial in Vincennes as Indiana transferred the site to the National Park Service.

Hal moved from commercial television in 1968 to become Chief Instructor of the Broadcast Department at the Defense Information School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison.  Through the Defense Department, Hal was asked to be the World Wide Network Pool Coordinator for the first eleven Space Shuttle flights, directing network feed from Mission Control at Johnson Space Center.  For 29 years, Hal also taught Television Production and Management and Broadcast Law as an adjunct professor at Butler’s Jordan College of Fine Arts.  He retired from Ft. Harrison in 1995, enjoying amateur radio, the computer, and voraciously reading and exercising 3 days a week at St. Vincent Cardiac Rehab.

Hal earned his private pilot’s license at age 15 and went on to earn his private, instrument, instructor and commercial rating licenses. He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Society, the Society of Broadcast Engineers, the National Association of Broadcasters, and was a Charter Member of the St. Louis Chapter of the National Academy of the Television Arts and Sciences.  An avid ham radio operator, he volunteered with Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) at numerous events including the Indy 500 and the PanAm Games. He also earned the title of “Kentucky Colonel” from the Kentucky State Police. The accomplishment of which he was most proud was earning his Eagle Scout Award.

He was preceded in death by his parents Francis Barron and Rosalie Barron; and sister Donna Sue Barron. Hal is survived by his wife of 54 years Gloria Barron; his daughter Tracy (Scott) Phillips; sister Fern Fenner; and granddaughter Lauren Phillips. Memorial contributions may be made to the Francis Harold Barron Book Fund (please notate in memo line), c/o Butler University, Office of Advancement, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208, or online at www.butler.edu/gifts. A calling will take place on Saturday, March 31 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church where he was a member, 100 W. 86th St., Indianapolis. A memorial service, officiated by Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scanlon, will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the church with a reception and refreshments following.

The family wishes to thank Carmel Health and Living Community for their loving care.