Anthony T. Hale

Anthony T. Hale (often shown in public records as Anthony Terome Hale, Jr.) was a 17-year-old student at Gadsden City High School whose presence was remembered for a warm smile, respectful manner, and promise as a student-athlete. Teammates and community members recalled him as a talented football and basketball player who drew college recruiting attention and who carried himself with humility and goodwill.

Anthony’s family roles — son, grandson, brother and friend — were central to how people in Gadsden described him. In media coverage at the time, classmates and neighbors remembered him for everyday kindnesses, his involvement in school sports, and the energy he brought to practices and games. Those details from contemporaneous reports paint the picture of a young person with ambitions and a close network of family and friends who valued him.

On the night of March 13, 2015, Anthony was seriously wounded in a shooting in downtown Gadsden. He was hospitalized and, as reported in local news coverage, his family made the decision to donate his organs. The community response that followed — memorials and public condolences — reflected how deeply his loss was felt by classmates, coaches, and neighbors.

While public records and news reports focus in part on the circumstances surrounding his death and the subsequent legal proceedings, those facts do not define the whole of Anthony’s life. Those who spoke about him emphasized his everyday character: a dedicated student, an eager athlete, and a beloved relative whose potential was cut far too short. This page honors Anthony by centering what is known of who he was in life — a young man with talent, family ties, and a place in his community — rather than the manner of his death.