Ralph Hall

Ralph Moody Hall (born May 3, 1923) is a United States Representative from the Fourth Congressional District in Texas (map). First elected in 1980, Hall is a senior member of the Science and the Energy and Commerce Committtees. He is the dean of the Texas congressional delegation, as well as the oldest serving member of the House of Representatives (circa March 2005).

Related Topics:
May 3 - 1923 - United States Representative - Fourth Congressional District - Texas - 1980 - Senior - Science - Energy and Commerce - The Texas congressional delegation - March 2005

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A lifelong resident of Rockwall County near Dallas, Hall served as a carrier pilot in the Navy during World War II. He attended Texas Christian University and the University of Texas, and received a law degree from Southern Methodist University. He was elected county judge (chief executive) of Rockwall County in 1950 and served until 1962, when he was elected to the Texas State Senate and served two terms. He then entered private business until 1980, when he was elected to Congress in the closest race in the district's history, winning by only 4 points. However, he has never faced another election nearly that close. He has been reelected 12 times without serious opposition, never dropping below 55 percent of the vote.

Related Topics:
Rockwall County - Dallas - Texas Christian University - University of Texas - Southern Methodist University - 1950 - 1962 - Texas State Senate - 1980

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Hall is only the fourth person to represent the 4th District since its creation in 1903. The district's second congressman, longtime Speaker Sam Rayburn, had represented the district for 48 years. Hall's predecessor, Ray Roberts had served for 19 years.

Related Topics:
1903 - Speaker - Sam Rayburn - Ray Roberts

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Hall was originally elected as a Democrat. However, he described himself as "an old-time conservative Democrat," and for many years he was far and away the most conservative Democrat in the House. He was an early supporter of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget and also favored legislation requiring a super-majority on any tax increases. He frequently clashed with the Clinton administration, and voted for three of the four articles of impeachment against Clinton. He endorsed George W. Bush for president in 2000; the two have been friends for many years.

Related Topics:
Democrat - Clinton administration - George W. Bush - 2000

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Hall's conservative record can be attributed to changes in the 4th dating to long before he took office. His district, which had once been reliably Democratic, became increasingly conservative as Dallas' suburban growth reached into much of the district. The 4th has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964. In much of the district, Hall eventually became the only elected Democrat above the county level, and in some cases above the municipal level. It was almost taken for granted that Hall would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired.

Related Topics:
1964 - Republican

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He was frequently rumored as a party switcher, especially after the Republicans took control of the House in 1995. However, Hall insisted he would remain a Democrat so long as it did not hurt his constituents, feeling he had an obligation to "pull my party back toward the middle." He was one of the cofounders of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate and conservative Democrats.

Related Topics:
Party switcher - 1995 - Blue Dog Coalition

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Hall finally did switch parties in 2004, after House Appropriations Committee vice-chairman Ralph Regula of Ohio announced that no congressional districts represented by Democrats would recieve funding. Hall also cited concerns with the Democrats' criticism of President Bush; he had not attended Democratic caucus meetings for some time because he couldn't stand the barbs thrown at his old friend by his Democratic colleagues. He was allowed to keep his seniority, and became chairman of the House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Later that year, he ran for his first full term as a Republican and won with 68 percent of the vote.

Related Topics:
2004 - House Appropriations Committee - Ralph Regula - Ohio

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Some had thought that he would replace Sherwood "Sherry" Boehlert of New York as chairman of the Science Committee. Boehlert has been a darling of environmental interests while Hall has strong ties to the oil and gas industry. However, this did not happen either after his party switch or the 2004 elections.

Related Topics:
Sherwood "Sherry" Boehlert - New York

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