Ralph Hall

Ralph Hall
Chair of the House Science Committee
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byBart Gordon
Succeeded byLamar Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byRay Roberts
Succeeded byJohn Ratcliffe
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 9th district
In office
January 8, 1963 – January 9, 1973
Preceded byRay Roberts
Succeeded byRon Clower
Personal details
Born
Ralph Moody Hall

(1923-05-03)May 3, 1923
Fate, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 7, 2019(2019-03-07) (aged 95)
Rockwall, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2004)
Republican (2004–2019)
Spouse
Mary Ellen Murphy
(m. 1944; died 2008)
Children3
EducationTexas Christian University
University of Texas, Austin
Southern Methodist University (LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1942–1945
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II

Ralph Moody Hall (May 3, 1923 – March 7, 2019) was an American politician who served as the United States representative for Texas's 4th congressional district from 1981 to 2015. He was first elected in 1980, and was the chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology from 2011 to 2013. He was also a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In 2004, he switched to the Republican Party after having been a member of the Democratic Party for more than 50 years.

At 91, he was the oldest serving member of Congress at the end of his last term in office, the oldest person to ever serve in the House of Representatives, the oldest one ever elected to a House term, the oldest House member ever to cast a vote, and also the last member of Congress from the G.I. Generation. Michigan Congressman John Dingell[1] and he were the last two World War II veterans serving in Congress.[2]

On March 6, 2014, Hall was challenged in the Republican primary by five other Republicans.[3][4] He received 45.42% of the vote, which was under 50%, the amount required to avoid a runoff election.[3][4] In the runoff, Hall faced former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe, who finished second in the primary with 28.77% of the vote.[3][4] On May 27, 2014, Ratcliffe defeated Hall in the runoff election, 53 to 47%.[5]

  1. ^ Finley, Nolan (February 24, 2014). "Michigan's Dingell won't seek re-election to Congress". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on March 21, 2014.
  2. ^ Good, Chris (June 7, 2013). "Frank Lautenberg and Senate Link to WW II Laid to Rest". ABC News. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Hooks, Christopher. Texas Congressman Ralph Hall, 34 Year Incumbent, Hits a Rough Patch, Texas Observer, March 12, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Office of the Secretary of State, 2014 Republican Party Primary Election, Election Night Returns, March 6, 2014
  5. ^ "Oldest congressman, Ralph Hall, 91, ousted by John Ratcliffe". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 27, 2014.