Samuel "Sam" Wesley Hall (March 10, 1937 – August 11, 2014) was an American Olympic silver medalist diver and politician who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Early life and education He was born in Dayton, Ohio, where his father Dave was mayor. His brother, Tony P. Hall, was a politician and diplomat. Hall began his athletic career began at Fairmont High School, where he was a two-time letterwinner in track and field. During high school, Hall set records for pole vaulting. College In the fall of 1955, Hall enrolled at the Ohio State University, where he lettered in gymnastics, soccer, track and diving. As a trackman, Hall competed in the pole vault and javelin. During 1959–1960, Hall won two Big-Ten Conference championships, three NCAA championships, and three U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles. Career 1960 Olympics Hall won a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games and 1960 Summer Olympics. After the 1960 Olympics, Hall served with the United States Air Force and competed in athletics for them, eventually retiring due to a knee injury. Politics From 1964 to 1966, Hall served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Pro-Contra efforts Hall later worked as an unpaid "volunteer counterterrorist," as Hall described himself, going to Central America to fight on the side of anti-communist forces as an advisor to the Nicaraguan Contras. He reentered the national spotlight again in late 1986 when he was captured by Sandinista National Liberation Front forces, which announced the capture of a "spy". Hall was freed after less than two months. When interviewed by journalists regarding his "volunteer counterrorist" activity, Hall sometimes referred to himself by saying, "They call me the Evel Knievel of Dayton" or "Just call me Sammy of the Sinai." Personal life Prior to his death, Hall worked as a real estate agent. Hall died in Florida on August 11, 2014, aged 77. References Further reading 1937 births 2014 deaths American athlete-politicians Members of the Ohio House of Representatives American mercenaries Sportspeople from Dayton, Ohio Ohio State Buckeyes men's divers Divers at the 1960 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for the United States in diving American male divers American people imprisoned abroad Prisoners and detainees of Nicaragua Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in diving Divers at the 1959 Pan American Games