[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7717-H7718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. ETHEL HARRIS HALL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Dr. Ethel Harris Hall, who passed away last Saturday at the age of 83. 
Dr. Ethel Hall was one of Alabama's premier educators and one of our 
Nation's strongest advocates for children. She was the first African 
American to serve on the Alabama State Board of Education, and she was 
the first African American and the longest-serving vice chairman of the 
board of education. She served as the State board of education's vice 
president for 10 years and presided over meetings in the absence of the 
Governor. Dr. Ethel Hall retired 10 months ago after serving on the 
Alabama State Board of Education for 24 years.
  Dr. Ethel Hall was born to Harry and Fannie Mae Harris on February 
23, 1928. The Harris family lived in Morgan County, Alabama, and due to 
the limited educational opportunities in their area, they sent their 
daughter to live with her grandparents in Jefferson County so she could 
attend school in north Birmingham.
  She attended Parker High School in Birmingham until she moved back 
home with her parents to attend Council Training School, a laboratory 
high school of Alabama A&M. She graduated valedictorian of her high 
school class and then attended Alabama A&M University, where she 
graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in 1948.
  Dr. Ethel Hall went on to obtain master's degrees from the University 
of Chicago and Atlanta University. She taught in the Hale County, 
Jefferson County, and Birmingham city school systems, and later became 
the first African American faculty member of the University of 
Montevallo. Dr. Ethel Hall continued to further her education by 
attending the University of Alabama where she earned a Doctorate of 
Social Work in 1979. She later taught in the School of Social Work at 
the University of Alabama.
  After decades of teaching, Dr. Ethel Hall entered politics, and she 
was elected the first African American member of the Alabama State 
Board of Education on January 19, 1987. She went on to serve six terms 
before becoming vice chair in 1994. Dr. Ethel Hall served on the State 
board of education for 24 years and was named vice president emerita.
  Dr. Hall served on the State board of education during many of its 
tumultuous battles over issues such as funding levels in schools, 
teacher testing, accountability standards for schools, and academic 
standards for students. In making these tough decisions, she also 
remained principled, putting Alabama's children first.
  Dr. Ethel Hall wrote about her long career in education in a recently 
published autobiography, ``My Journey: A Memoir of the first African 
American to Preside Over the Alabama Board of Education.''
  I rise today to remember Dr. Ethel Hall on the floor of the United 
States Congress as a trailblazing Alabamian, a gifted teacher, and a 
strong advocate for the education of our Nation's children.
  Dr. Hall was a mentor to so many educators throughout the State of 
Alabama and this Nation, including my own mother, Mrs. Nancy Gardner 
Sewell. Through her numerous mentoring relationships, Dr. Hall 
encouraged teachers to use their talents to positively affect the lives 
of the students they taught. Not only did she lead by example; she also 
trained and mentored the next generation of educational leaders.
  Indeed, my generation owes pioneers like Dr. Hall a debt of 
gratitude. Dr. Ethel Hall sowed the seeds for the opportunities that 
now flourish for so many. I know that I stand on the shoulders of many 
great giants like Dr. Ethel Hall.
  On election night, November 2, 2010, several trailblazing Alabama 
women made the trip to Selma, Alabama, to be there when I was elected. 
I will never forget that Dr. Ethel Hall was one of them. Her presence 
meant so much to me, more than she will ever know. It was her light 
that guided the path that led me to become Alabama's first African 
American Congresswoman.
  Dr. Ethel Hall was the epitome of a servant leader. She led by 
example and was motivated by a driving passion

[[Page H7718]]

that all children deserve a quality education.
  Dr. Hall was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Mr. Alfred 
Hall. She is survived by two children, Donna and Alfred, and a host of 
family and friends who will miss her dearly.
  Today, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of this 
extraordinary Alabamian. Let Dr. Hall's life stand as a testament to 
the courage and strength of one individual's ability to shape the lives 
of so many. We should be renewed by her love of learning and recommit 
ourselves to providing the resources that our Nation's greatest 
advocate--its children--need. I ask that we all pay tribute and homage 
to Dr. Ethel Hall.

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