Hal
was born in New Orleans and grew up in New Orleans and New York City where he
attended City College of New York. He joined the Navy during the Korean
War. From boot camp, he attended NAPS
and then the Naval Academy. He was the fifth African American to graduate from
the Academy.
He
served tours in the Air Force, primarily as a navigator in B-52’s. In 1967
while assigned to an Air Force unit in Thailand flying in B-66 electronics
intercept aircraft, he severely injured a leg in a motorcycle accident
resulting in a medical retirement.
After
retirement, Hal earned a law degree at the University of Colorado where he had
previously earned masters in business and economics. Subsequently, he taught business and black
studies at Front Range Community College and the University of Colorado, worked
in the Legal Department at Lowry Air Force Base, with Housing and Urban
Development in Denver and in his own law practice.
Unbeknownst
to most of his classmates, Hal was subjected to racial discrimination in New
Orleans, New York City, Annapolis, and when attempting to buy a home in
Southern California. He, along with his wife Martie, had to continually battle
this bias. Their efforts, in their own
way, helped achieve the civil rights gains of the time. Hal believed that if he could succeed in life
by applying himself, others could too.
A
fall led to his death in January 2000. Hal’s son, Harold S. Bauduit, III predeceased him. His wife Martie passed away
in 2001. Hal is survived by his two
daughters, Cheryl B. Williams of Aurora, CO and Lianne B. Moss of San Diego,
CA.