[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN RALPH HALL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 9, 2014

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there is no one like Texas Congressman 
Ralph Hall.
  Congressman Ralph Hall is the oldest serving member of Congress, the 
oldest person to ever serve in the House of Representatives, the oldest 
person ever elected to a House term and the oldest House member ever to 
a cast a vote. Mr. Hall is also the last remaining Congressman who 
served our nation during World War II.
  And for all of these accomplishments, I would like to thank and 
congratulate Ralph one more time for his service to the country and his 
leadership in the Texas Congressional Delegation.
  Born in Fate, Texas on May 3, 1923, Hall did not know of his 
successful future which was ahead of him. At the age of 19, Hall 
enrolled into the U.S. Navy where he served as a lieutenant and combat 
aircraft carrier pilot from 1942 to 1945 during World War II.
  After serving for three years, Hall then went on to finish college 
and received his LL.B. from Southern Methodist University in 1951. He 
was admitted to the Texas Bar, and practiced law in Rockwall.
  Mr. Hall also participated in the business side of Rockwall where he 
took part in serving as President/CEO of Texas Aluminum Corp., General 
Counsel of Texas Extrusion Co., Chairman of Lakeside News, Inc., and 
was a founding member of Lakeside National Bank in Rockwall where he 
currently serves as Chairman of the Board.
  Ralph had the calling to serve Texas in the political arena in Texas 
politics, a combat sport. So he began his public service from 1950 to 
1962 when he served as County Judge of Rockwall County, Texas. Mr. Hall 
also served as President of the State Judges and Commissioners 
Association in 1958-1959.
  From 1962 to 1972, Mr. Hall was elected and served as a Texas State 
Senator where he served as President Pro Tempore in 1968-1969.
  Congressman Ralph Hall was first elected to serve the 4th District of 
Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 and has been re-
elected to each succeeding Congress.
  On November 27, 2012, Congressman Hall became the oldest member in 
the U.S. House of Representatives to ever cast a vote. The following 
month, on December 25, 2012, he became the oldest-serving Member of the 
U.S. House of Representatives in recorded history.
  Congressman Hall always ensured to serve his people and made sure 
their voice was heard on different issues throughout Congress.
  A noteworthy quote Mr. Hall often said was ``I'd rather be respected 
at home than liked in Washington.'' Ralph is a hardcore Texan with the 
unique knowledge of understanding all people from the rich and famous 
to the infamous and downtrodden.
  He was a proud conservative democrat and personally knew the likes of 
LBJ, Speaker Sam Rayburn, Muhammad Ali, baseball great Mickey Mantle, 
war veteran Audie Murphy, Senator John F. Kennedy, Ted Williams, 
President Ronald Reagan, Texas Governor John Connally, Texas Governor 
William ``Bill'' P. Clements, Jr., Texas Governor Ann Richards, Texas 
Governor Rick Perry, Curtis Cokes, General Tommy Franks, Lieutenant 
General Tom Stafford, astronauts Gene Cernan, Buzz Aldrin, Neal 
Armstrong, U.S. Representative Ray Roberts, U.S. Senator Phil Gramm, 
famous aviator Claire Chennault, President George H.W. Bush, President 
George W. Bush, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey 
Hutchison, U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, T. Boone Pickens, H. Ross Perot, 
Red Adair, Bo Derek, Chuck Norris, Ted Williams, Tom Hanks and The Ink 
Spots.
  He works well with both Republicans and Democrats, but he ``got 
religion,'' in 2004, and became a Republican. Never forgetting his 
Democrat roots, he commented, ``Being a Democrat was more fun.''
  Ralph Hall always has a story and a new, but often used joke. He runs 
2 miles a day and certainly symbolizes the best of the Greatest 
Generation.
  Ralph Hall's service and leadership has shaped him into an important 
role model that members of the Texas Delegation in Congress, on both 
sides of the aisle admire. His dedication and love for his public 
service illustrates how success is attainable when mixed with hard work 
and determination, along with a love of America and of course, Texas.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________