Robert Eugene Tall, 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2009, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He was born on May 15, 1926, in Baltimore, Maryland to George Benjamin and Lillian Rebecca (Grover) Tall.

After being graduated from the McDonogh School in 1944, he joined the Navy where he trained as a radio technician. Following World War II, he attended the University of Maryland in the School of Journalism and was graduated in 1951.

His journalism career focused on public safety communications including the following publications based in Washington, D.C.: Telecommunications Reports, Industrial Communications and Washington Radio Reports. These companies were acquired by Phillips Publishing, Inc. of Bethesda in 1983.

In 1984, he accepted the position of Executive Director of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers (APCO) whose offices are located in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was a lifetime member of that organization.

Among his many accomplishments during his 57 years of public safety service, he was most proud of his efforts in helping to create our nation's 9-l-l rescue system. He retired from APCO in 1992 and resided in New Smyrna Beach, Florida until his death.
In his retirement, he was active in the local American Legion Post where his responsibilities were many and varied, but included organizing the newsletter.

Mr. Tall lived in various places during his lifetime, including Baltimore, Silver Spring, Calvert County, and Crofton, Maryland; Crystal City, Virginia; and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Robert is survived by his sister Lillian (Tall) Mattingly; children Roberta (Dan) Morton, Ben (Debra), Robin (John) Hogan, Grover (Maria), James, Larry (Julia) Ehrlich and Jenny (David) Kerven. He is also survived by his former wife, Gloria Gay Tall, who currently resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He leaves his grandchildren: Deborah, Timothy, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Maxwell and Madilyn, and step-grandchildren, Robyn, Max, Rachel, Aviva, and Gabriel. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Che and Bella. Numerous nieces and nephews will also remember him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers McCoy, Grover and Richard and sisters Alice and Mary Georgeanna as well as his wives Jane Davies and Roanne Rubin. He was recently bereaved by special friend, Martha Goodwin.

A memorial service will be held in Lusby, Maryland on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Rausch Funeral Home, with a visiting hour from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Inurnment will be in Middleham Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Tall may be made to Bert Fish Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 1000, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, 32170 (Dialysis Unit) or to the charity of your choice.