BATON ROUGE, La. – Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon in Louisiana for Alcorn State’s first year Strength and Conditioning Coach Thomas Alvin “Zeus” Hall. Hall, 40, was killed on Sunday, Oct. 16, when he apparently tried to cross the railroad track and hit an oncoming train in Baton Rouge, La.
According to Louisiana State Police, the accident occurred just after midnight on U.S. Highway 61 just north of Thomas Road. State Troopers said Hall, who is from Baton Rouge, was driving a 2002 GMC Yukon when he crossed the tracks and hit a Kansas City Southern engine.
Hall was pronounced dead at the scene.
The train crossing had working bells and lights to signal the train, troopers said, and workers were also reportedly at the scene to alert drivers of the passing train.
The accident remains under investigation.
Troopers said Hall’s was the second death reported in the area this year where a driver attempted to cross the railroad track with properly operating bells and lights.
A public viewing for Hall was held on Friday at the Beech Grove Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, and a funeral was held on the campus of Southern University, also in Baton Rouge, at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
According to Alcorn State, Hall was in his first season as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Braves and was responsible for the physical development of Alcorn student-athletes, training all Athletic Programs.
“Zeus was a joy to work with and was very helpful throughout the entire department of Athletics. The staff and student-athletes are in shock over this tragic news. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with his family in their time of bereavement,” stated Interim Athletic Director Dr. Malvin Williams, Sr.
During his 14- year tenure at Southern University, Hall served as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach under the Great noted Head Coach Billy C. Long, whose physical fitness philosophy helped aid the St. Louis Rams to become the 2000 Super Bowl Champions.
Hall served under Coach Danny Morris as “The Enforcer” for the Strength and Conditioning program that helped bring Southern University back to the top of SWAC in 2003 with a Championship, and a return trip to Birmingham in 2004.
Hall, a native of Baton Rouge, La., graduated from Capitol High School in 1992. This is reportedly where he earned the nickname, “Zeus” due to his large size when he played sports.
Hall earned his Associates in Law Enforcement in 2000, as well as his Bachelors in Criminal Justice in 2001 from Southern University. He was also a Professional member of the NSCA as well as a devoted member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Hall is survived by his daughter, his parents, three brothers and a sister.
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