David Haller was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts to Werner and Beatrice Stowe Haller, but his life took a significant turn when he was just three years old and was adopted by Carl Hanson. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, which would eventually lead him to become a permanent resident of St. Petersburg, Florida in 1990.
David's military service was a defining aspect of his life, and he served in the Air Force for four years as an Air Policeman during the Korean War. His time in the military was marked by bravery, as he was TDY to the Armies 187th Regimental Combat Team as a radio operator and made two jumps into Korea, where he was injured on his second jump. Despite this, David's love for parachuting only grew stronger, and he went on to learn skydiving, accumulating over 1,000 jumps to his credit. He even did stunts for the TV series "Ripcord" in the 1960s.
David's passion for entertainment led him to produce, direct, and headline in the Las Vegas Revue, "The Best of Burlesque", at the Landmark Hotel, alongside his wife. They also owned and operated the Country Dinner Playhouse in St. Petersburg, Florida, and The Stage Door Dinner Theater in Huntsville, Alabama in the 1980s. Additionally, David produced the Mississippi Gulf Coast Fair and Exposition, which is still in existence in Biloxi, Mississippi, and co-produced and directed a full-length motion picture titled "The Night of the Bloody Transplant".
In the music industry, David owned Tia Records and had several semi-successful recordings in the early 1960s. He was also a member of the "Hilltoppers" recording group in the 1980s and played drums in a band he formed in his early years. Furthermore, David was signed by the Boston Red Sox in the late 1940s and was the youngest bonus baby at the time, going on to have a short career as an outfielder in the minor leagues.
David's commitment to his country and his fellow veterans was evident in his work as the original Honor Guard Commander for the Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Council, where he, along with 25 volunteers, gave fallen veterans the honor they deserved at their internment. He also enjoyed sharing his knowledge of military history with young children at The Armed Forces Military History Museum, where he served as a tour guide. David was a member of numerous organizations, including the American Legion, 101st Airborne Association, Gibsonton Showman's League, and KWVA, among many others.
