[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 140 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND DOCTOR W.J. HALL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 7, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Reverend Dr. W.J. Hall in 
recognition of his forty-two years of outstanding service as Pastor of 
the Bethel Baptist Church.
  Dr. Hall was born August 1, 1928 in Oxford, North Carolina, the only 
son of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Grant A. Hall. After 
attending High School in Oxford, Dr. Hall studied at Temple University 
from 1947 to 1949. Following his academic work at Temple, he returned 
to North Carolina where he enlisted in the United States Army, 
attaining the rank of sergeant. Dr. Hall resumed his academic studies 
at Shaw University, graduating with an A.B degree in 1957. For the next 
two years, he earned 18 hours toward a master's degree while serving as 
the pastor of the Olive Grove Baptist church in Oxford and the Spring 
Street Baptist Church in Henderson, North Carolina.
  In 1961, Dr. Hall was called to the Bethel Baptist Church. Since 
then, he has completed a Master of Theology degree from the Virginia 
Seminary and College. Later, the College conferred upon Rev. Hall three 
honorary degrees including Doctor of Divinity in 1965, Doctor of Humane 
Letters in 1977, and a Doctor of Laws in 1982.
  Dr. Hall is widely recognized for his active civic involvement and 
several community accomplishments such as the Founder of the Self Help 
Council, the Omega Neighborhood Improvement Association of South 
Brooklyn, and chairman of the Bethel Baptist Day Care. He is also a 
member of the Board of Directors of the Baptist Educational Centers of 
Brooklyn and Long Island; the Board of Directors of the Bedford-
Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation as well as the Chaplain of the New 
York City Housing Police and Past Protestant Chaplain of the Holy 
Family Hospital.
  Under the leadership of Dr. Hall, the Bethel Baptist Church has 
greatly increased its membership and is in the process of erecting a 
new three-story building adjacent to the church.
  Mr. Speaker, Reverend Dr. W.J. Hall has served his parishioners in 
exemplary fashion and has worked to improve the lives of everyone in 
his community for forty-two years. As such, he is more than worthy of 
receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring this truly remarkable person.

                          ____________________