Hall had a solid background in engineering due to his time at West Point and often incorporated surveying and other engineering applications into his coursework. He had an energetic personality and quickly assumed a leadership position among the faculty. As president, Hall was noted for his aggressive fundraising and improvements to the school, including his special project, the A. French Textile School.[50] In February 1899, Georgia Tech opened the first textile engineering school in the Southern United States,[51] with $10,000 from the Georgia General Assembly, $20,000 of donated machinery, and $13,500 from supporters.[52] It named the A. French Textile School after its chief donor and supporter, Aaron S. French.