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Story and photos by Carey Reeder

If you have ever driven through the Town of Maplesville, more likely than not, you have passed an older gentleman waving at your car. Nearly every day, the man can be found in his signature seat near the railroad tracks, never missing his chance to wave at those passing by.

The Waving Man of Maplesville, Boe Hall, is a lifelong resident in the town. He lives just a short stroll from his signature waving spot, and he has always kept things simple for himself.

Growing up in Maplesville, Hall had 10 brothers and sisters after his parents, Andrew Hall and Lilly Neal, had 11 children. The Hall children’s days growing up in Maplesville were full of outside time playing games and sports.

“There was not too much to do (when we were kids),” Hall said. “We did nothing but play outside — basketball, football and stuff like that.”

Hall attended school locally in Maplesville but stopped early to pursue a career in logging. He worked in the wood industry and was a logger for 26 years before retiring, which he is enjoying now while spreading smiles in the community.

It is hard to pass by Hall without cracking a smile. An older man dressed in a flannel shirt with work pants and an old ball cap waving a every single car that goes by. It is Mayberry in a flesh, and it is right here in the Town of Maplesville.

“Just about every day I am not doing something else I am out here, and it just gives me something to do and walking around,” Hall said.

Hall says waving to people for him is the same as speaking. Each wave he throws up and gets back, that is a conversation. Waving at every car allows people to know “Hey, welcome to our town,” or “Hey, how is your day going?” It makes people feel welcome to Maplesville, and excited to return.

Hall was reluctant to believe that his small acts of kindness could affect someone’s day for the better, but they do. In just 15 minutes out by the railroad tracks, over 50 cars either waved back or gave Hall a honk on their horns. Just those few seconds of interaction shared by possibly two complete strangers can have a massive, positive affect on someone.

Hall added that coming up to the railroad tracks to watch the traffic and wave at people helps him feel like he is a part of the Maplesville community — a community that adores Hall and his waves.

“I get lonely sitting down there at the house, so I come up here and watch the traffic and trucks come through,” Hall said. “I wave at a lot of people, and they wave at me. I just come up here, sit and watch the traffic go by. I feel better up here than by myself.”

Hall’s time at the railroad tracks waving at the residents and passerbys are special to him, and those interactions are meaningful. He has never been married, does not have any kids and over half of his siblings have passed away, including all five of his sisters and one of his five brothers. However, Hall’s days are not lost, and they are spent by spreading smiles in Maplesville one wave at a time.

“I have people that pass by and say ‘Hey, how are you,’ and they wave back at me,” Hall said. “A lot of people wave at me who I do not know, but I just wave back. Speak to them by waving. I always wave, a lot of cars pass by and blow their horn. I do not know them, but I will wave. That is the way I am.”

The next time you are in Chilton County, come across Alabama Highway 22 to Main Street in Maplesville. You may get your own chance to wave back at The Maplesville Waving Man.