CARTERVILLE - Stan Hale, longtime John A. Logan College professor and a mainstay in the Southern Illinois theater scene, passed away suddenly last night.

Hale was at a rehearsal of his latest directorial effort at the college, "Neighborhood Crime Watch," which was scheduled to open this weekend, when he collapsed. The play has since been postponed for a date to be announced.

According to the college, Hale was an Associate Professor of English and humanities. He came to John A. Logan College as a part time instructor in speech in 1987, and became full time in English/humanities in 1988. In addition to teaching writing, literature and speech courses, he has directed and/or acted in some 30 theatrical productions at JALC. He taught journalism and was faculty advisor to the student newspaper, "The Volunteer" for seven years.

Hale was also active member and past president of The Jackson County Stage Company in Carbondale and a frequent actor at the Market House Theater in Paducah, Kentucky. He directed and appeared in productions at McLeod Theater and the Christian H. Moe Theater at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, with Paradise Alley Players in Marion, Illinois, and with the Oakland City University Theater in Indiana.

Dave McKenzie, one of the cast members of "Neighborhood Crime Watch" said that it was a devastating loss for Community Theater.

"He loved doing plays," McKenzie said. "At least he was somewhere doing what he loved to do."

The Southern will have more on Hale's passing later on in the day and a full article in tomorrow's paper.