Montana Rice Superfans
Classic 49ers football. Elvis-era rock and roll. An Air Force salute every hour. Sponsored by the United States Air Force.
Dedicated toMSgt John Earl HallUSAF 1976–1996
- 75
- Years lived
- 47
- Years married
- 20
- Years USAF
- 3
- Careers
Tune the dial
Channel 01
Channel confirmed · live
01 — KFND · 1980 FM — Founder's Station
FM 19.80 · Tracks We Are Forced To Play · committed just now
pool id: ch1
Same broadcast. Different reality. The music keeps playing — only the DJs change.
In Memoriam
John Earl Hall
June 18, 1950 — August 20, 2025 · MSgt, United States Air Force (Ret.)
Biographical detail in this section sourced from [1] Smith Family Funeral Home obituary and [2] Legacy.com.
John was born in Burbank, California on June 18, 1950 and grew up in Fresno. He moved to San Francisco for college, earning an Associate's in Criminology with his sights set on a law enforcement career — the field would have to wait. In 1976 he raised his hand and joined the United States Air Force.
He served twenty years on active duty: four years in Security Forces as an EOD Bomb Dog Handler — the dangerous, patient work of clearing ordnance with a four-legged partner — and then sixteen years with the Civil Engineers Corps, the people who build, repair, and keep every base standing. He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1996.
Then he started over. He spent ten years in Colorado Springs as a Concrete Estimator with Colorado Flat Work Co. before following Julie's DECA Commissary career to Watertown, New York, where he picked up a second Associate's degree in Business Accounting and a New York real estate license. Memphis came next in 2005, with a Tennessee real estate license to match. In 2008 the family landed in Little Rock, Arkansas, and John took on a third career managing base housing at Little Rock Air Force Base — eight years of Civil Service before he retired (for real this time) in 2017.
Off the clock he was an outdoorsman, traveler, fisherman, camper, bowler, bird-watcher, and photographer — and the kind of golfer who'd tee it up with his best buddy from work, Marty, every chance he got. In the workshop he was "Mr. Fix-It," building furniture, cabinets, tables, stools, shelving, decks, and a custom winter house for his beloved German Shepherd, Lady. If something needed doing, he was already on it.
Above all he was Niner Faithful — a 49ers superfan from the Montana-to-Rice dynasty days through every Super Bowl run since. This station carries his colors.
On August 27, 2025, John was laid to rest at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors — folded flag, three volleys, taps. 49 FM signs on every day in his memory.
Stations of a life
From Burbank to the Arkansas flag line
Tap any station to expand. Filter by chapter to follow the thread you care about.
Family Roll Call
The people who made his world
Yol-Chu "Julie" Hall
Wife · 47 years married
John Hall Jr.
Son · John's only son
Robin Baez
Daughter
Natalie Victorino
Daughter
Luiz · Miguel · Aidan Baez
Grandsons
Cheryl Bichlier
Surviving step-sister
Lady
Beloved German Shepherd · always by his side
Marty
Best buddy from work · golf partner
In memory of
Susan Marcelli (sister) · Dennis Hall (brother) · Francis & John Eugene Hall (parents)
On 49 FM, you'll hear
The booth, the bench, and the back nine
COACH on the call
Classic 49ers play-by-play vibe — Joe to Jerry, The Catch, Candlestick wind. The booth never sleeps.
Elvis-era rock & oldies
Surf, rock-and-roll, AM-gold rotation pulled from the Jamendo Creative Commons catalog.
Air Force salute hourly
Sponsored station IDs from SARGE — the warm vet voice that keeps watch on the dial for John.
Mr. Fix-It bumpers
Workshop one-liners between songs — for everyone with sawdust in their pockets and a project on the bench.
A dog named Lady
Every shift gets at least one shoutout to Lady, the German Shepherd who outranked everyone in the house.
Family roll call
Julie, John Jr., Robin, Natalie, Luiz, Miguel, Aidan — the names that make this signal mean something.
Photo Gallery
The Hall family album
Every photo here was approved by the family. Have a picture of John you'd like to share? Submit one — they'll review and add it to the wall.
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Memorial Guestbook
Leave a message for the Hall family
Share a memory, a salute, or a few kind words. Messages are read on-air on 49 FM and saved here for John's family.
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Frequently asked
About 49 FM, channel 5, and the guestbook
Quick answers about the station, how to tune in, and how to leave a message for the family of MSgt John Earl Hall.
- What is 49 FM Montana Rice Superfans?
- 49 FM (call sign KJEH) is a personal tribute radio station on yapFM dedicated to MSgt John Earl Hall — USAF 1976–1996 and lifelong San Francisco 49ers superfan. It plays classic Niner-era play-by-play vibes, Elvis-era rock and oldies, and an Air Force salute every hour.
- How do I tune in to channel 5?
- Open yapFM and turn the channel dial to 05. The station ID is KJEH on 49 FM. You can also tap “Tune to 49 FM” at the top of this page to jump straight into the live show.
- Is the station affiliated with the 49ers, the NFL, or the U.S. Air Force?
- No. 49 FM Montana Rice Superfans is an independent personal tribute station built on yapFM. It is not affiliated with the San Francisco 49ers, the National Football League, or the United States Air Force.
- Who was MSgt John Earl Hall?
- John Earl Hall (June 18, 1950 – August 20, 2025) served twenty years in the United States Air Force — four years as an EOD Bomb Dog Handler in Security Forces and sixteen years with the Civil Engineers Corps — retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1996. He was a husband, father, grandfather, woodworker, golfer, and devoted Niner Faithful.
- How do I sign the memorial guestbook?
- Scroll to the “Sign the guestbook” section on this page, fill in your name and a short message (a relationship and location are optional), and submit. Entries appear immediately and remain part of the public memorial archive for the family to read.
- Is the guestbook moderated, and can I edit or remove an entry?
- Yes. Entries are visible publicly on the memorial page. If you need an entry corrected or removed, contact the family through the note at the bottom of the Sources section and we will update it.
- Where can I read the official obituary and sources?
- Every biographical detail on this page is sourced from public obituary records linked in the Sources & citations section, including Smith Family Funeral Home and Legacy.com.
Sources & citations
Every detail, on the record
The biographical detail on this page is drawn from public obituary records. Where a fact appears below, we link the primary source.
[1] Smith Family Funeral Home — Official Obituary
smithfamilycares.com/obituaries/john-earl-hallPrimary source. Confirms: birth (Burbank, CA · June 18, 1950); death (August 20, 2025); rank of Master Sergeant; USAF service 1976–1996; 4 years Security Forces as EOD Bomb Dog Handler; 16 years Civil Engineers Corps; retirement at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs; civilian careers in Colorado Springs (Concrete Estimator), Watertown NY, Memphis TN, and Little Rock AR (Base Housing at Little Rock AFB, retired 2017); hobbies (golf with Marty, bowling, fishing, camping, photography, bird-watching, woodworking, "Mr. Fix-It"); family — wife Yol-Chu "Julie" (47 years), son John Hall Jr., daughters Robin Baez and Natalie Victorino, grandsons Luiz · Miguel · Aidan Baez, German Shepherd "Lady", step-sister Cheryl Bichlier; preceded by sister Susan Marcelli, brother Dennis Hall, parents Francis & John Eugene Hall.
[2] Legacy.com — Obituary mirror (Sherwood, AR)
legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-hall-obituary?id=59274082Secondary mirror confirming the same biographical record, plus the second Associate's degree (Business Accounting), New York and Tennessee real estate licenses, and 8 years of Civil Service at Little Rock AFB.
[3] Smith Family Funeral Home — Service & burial details
smithfamilycares.com/obituaries/john-earl-hallConfirms visitation and funeral service at Smith Family Funeral Home Sherwood on August 27, 2025, and burial at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery the same day.
[4] Family contribution
The framing of John as a lifelong 49ers superfan from the Montana-to-Rice era, the "Niner Faithful" dedication, and the tribute station concept were contributed directly by family for this page. Any biographical claim not covered by [1]–[3] is family-supplied context, not independently verified.
If you spot an error or want a detail added or removed, write to the family and we'll update this page.
49 FM Montana Rice Superfans is a personal tribute station built on yapFM. It is not affiliated with the San Francisco 49ers, the National Football League, or the United States Air Force. Made with love for the family of MSgt John Earl Hall.
Niner Faithful · Forever