[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 30 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H955-H956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REMEMBERING FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KATIE HALL

  (Mr. BURTON of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for a moment 
of silence. We just lost a former Member of Congress, Katie Hall, from 
Gary, Indiana. After that, Mr. Speaker, if you would be so kind, we 
would like to have a moment or two to make some comments about Ms. 
Hall.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Palazzo). The gentleman from Indiana 
will please suspend. The House will be in order.
  The gentleman from Indiana is recognized.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  Let me just start off real quickly, before I yield to my colleague 
from Gary, Indiana, and say that Katie Hall, who was a Member of this 
body, died just this last few days from an unknown illness. She was 73 
years old.
  She came from very humble beginnings in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. She 
grew up on her grandfather's cotton farm, and she was a teacher for 
more than 30 years. She was a very fine teacher.
  She moved, in 1962, to Gary, Indiana, where she became a very good 
friend of Richard Hatcher, the mayor. When a good friend of mine, Adam 
Benjamin, who was once a Member of this body, died, Mayor Hatcher 
appointed her as the nominee of the Democrat Party to succeed him. She 
also served in the Indiana Senate. I served with her there.
  She was a very fine person. During her time in the Congress, she 
sponsored, along with others, but she was one of the key sponsors, in 
1983, of a national holiday in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King. 
She was credited for playing a very key role in getting that bill 
passed after it had stalled in the House for over 14 years.
  Let me just say that she was a great lady and a great Congresswoman, 
and she will missed. We want to extend our deepest sympathy to her 
family and her friends.
  With that, I will be happy to yield to my colleague, the senior 
Member from Gary, Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I would express my appreciation to the dean of our 
delegation, Mr. Burton, for asking for a moment of silence and the 
Speaker's indulgence.
  Mr. Burton rightfully pointed out Mrs. Hall's ascendancy into the 
Congress and the sponsorship of the legislation that led to Dr. King's 
birthday being declared a national holiday. But I would also point out 
to my colleagues that Mrs. Hall also served in the Indiana House as 
well as the Indiana Senate, and following her service in the United 
States Congress also served as clerk for the City of Gary for 15 years, 
from 1988 to 2003.
  She does leave a granddaughter, two daughters, and a husband. My 
sympathies, and all of ours, go out to the family, as well.
  I also think that Mrs. Hall probably would want to be most remembered 
for her role as an educator who taught young people in the Gary public 
school system. She certainly always served her family, she always 
served those she taught and represented, and she certainly has served 
her country.
  Again, our sympathies go to the family, and I deeply appreciate the 
respect shown by the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness and great respect that I take 
this time to remember one of northwest Indiana's most valued citizens 
and my predecessor, former Congresswoman, Katie Beatrice Hall. 
Throughout her prestigious career, Katie's contributions to the people 
of northwest Indiana and across the Nation are exemplary, and she is 
worthy of the highest praise. Mrs. Hall passed away on Monday, February 
20, 2012, but her legacy will live on forever in the hearts and minds 
of those she served.
  Congresswoman Hall grew up in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, during the 
pre-civil rights era. Segregation laws were strict in the South during 
that time, and she learned early in life how to succeed despite great 
opposition. In 1960, Katie earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi 
Valley State University. Later, she moved to Indiana and continued her 
education, earning a master's degree from Indiana University, 
Bloomington, in 1968.
  The Congresswoman's involvement in politics began when she campaigned 
for former Mayor of Gary Richard Hatcher. Her work on the campaign 
further fueled her desire to serve others and inspired her to run for 
elected office. Prior to becoming a Member of Congress, she served in 
the Indiana House of

[[Page H956]]

Representatives from 1974 to 1976 and was then elected to the Indiana 
Senate, serving from 1976 to 1982. As a member of the Indiana General 
Assembly, Mrs. Hall was influential in establishing the Genesis Center, 
Hudson-Campbell Fitness Center, and the Adam Benjamin Metro Center, in 
Gary. Katie also served as the Chair for the Lake County Democratic 
Committee from 1978 to 1980 and for the Indiana Democratic Convention 
in 1980. In 1982, following the untimely passing of United States 
Congressman Adam Benjamin, Jr., Katie won the special election to 
complete his term in office and to represent the First Congressional 
District of Indiana in the 98th Congress, becoming the first African 
American from Indiana elected to serve in the United States House of 
Representatives. While in office, Katie served as chairwoman of the 
Post Office and Civil Services Subcommittee on Census and Population. 
During her time in Congress, Representative Hall made a truly historic 
contribution through her sponsorship of the bill that made Reverend Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. This bill had 
been stalled in the House for fourteen years, and through her passion 
and persistence, Katie was successful in establishing this recognition 
of Dr. King. Mrs. Hall was a trailblazer for the Civil Rights Movement 
and a devoted public servant to her community, state, and Nation. In 
the years following her term, Katie continued her life of public 
service as city clerk for Gary, Indiana from 1988 to 2003.
  Katie Hall leaves behind a loving family. She is survived by her 
cherished husband, John Henry Hall, as well as her adoring daughters, 
Jacqueline and Junifer, and her beloved granddaughter, Kristina. She 
also leaves behind many other dear friends and family members, as well 
as a saddened community and a grateful nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in remembering the Honorable Katie Hall for her 
tremendous contributions to the people of her community, the State of 
Indiana, and the United States of America. Her life of public service 
is to be admired. Her legacy will serve as an inspiration to us all.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I 
would be very happy to yield to my colleague from Indianapolis.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to 
join my colleagues to honor the life of former Congresswoman Katie Hall 
who passed last week at the age of 73. I met her as a young man. In 
fact, I had a chance to spend some time with her in the early eighties 
in San Francisco during the Democratic National Convention.

                              {time}  1900

  But she quickly made a name for herself, to my colleague's point, not 
only as a strong advocate and leader in the State of Indiana, but as an 
educator. She knew that America's children were suffering, and she 
supported alternative education, Mr. Speaker. She understood that 
children had different needs, and she made sure that she was an 
advocate of different educational models to meet those needs.
  So my deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends who are 
mourning her passing. And we know that Indiana politics will not be the 
same.
  I thank my colleague for acknowledging me.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, Katie Hall will be missed. And 
once again, our sympathy goes out to her family and all of her loved 
ones.

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