BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The foyer inside of Hoban Hall received a remodel that was completed in November, which highlights the remarkable history of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Led by the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications Center Historian Dennis Pinner, the foyer has added to the legacy of Hoban Hall.
The exhibit area consists of a mural filled with pictures around Barksdale, spanning from the initial construction of the base in the early 1930s to present day. Today, Hoban Hall is used for numerous events such as promotion ceremonies, commander’s calls, formal events and more.
“Col. Neuman was concerned about the overall appearance of the foyer area at Hoban Hall and wanted to freshen it up; give it a more professional look,” Pinner said. “He came to me and asked if I had any ideas to inject some history or heritage into this area. I welcomed the opportunity to bring history to Hoban Hall.”
The renovation of the foyer was made a high priority due to the numerous events held each year. With support and a vision, Pinner poured through hundreds of photographs to select what would be utilized for the mural.
“Luckily for us, we have a fantastic graphic designer here on base through the Force Support Squadron who sat down and went through these photographs with me and helped select the best ones that tell the story of Barksdale,” Pinner said.
In addition to the mural, Pinner incorporated a display case of Lt. Gen. Richard Hoban.
Hoban was the 2nd Air Force commander at Barksdale in October 1973. When the 2nd Air Force was inactivated and the 8th Air Force stood up in January 1975, Hall became the commander of the 8th Air Force. The facility was dedicated to him in October 1984.
“It gave us a great opportunity to put a visual for the namesake of the facility and why the name of the facility is Hoban Hall,” he said.
Hoban Hall is a pivotal part of mission support at Barksdale. With the new look to the foyer, it gives Team Barksdale another way to commemorate the heritage of the Mighty Eighth.