Ralph Hall
| Ralph Hall | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Chairman of the House Science Committee | |
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In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
|
| Speaker | John Boehner |
| Preceded by | Bart Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Lamar S. Smith |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 4th district |
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In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Roberts |
| Succeeded by | John Ratcliffe |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 9th district |
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In office January 8, 1963 – January 9, 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Ron Clower |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ralph Moody Hall May 3, 1923 Fate, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party |
Republican (since 2004) Democratic (1950–2004) |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Ellen Hall (1944–2008, her death) |
| Children | Hampton Hall Brett Hall Blakeley Hall |
| Residence | Rockwall, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Southern Methodist University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Ralph Moody Hall (born May 3, 1923) is 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 person ever elected to a House term and the oldest House member ever to cast a vote. He and Michigan Congressman John Dingell were the last two World War II veterans serving in Congress.
On March 6, 2014, Hall was challenged in the Republican primary by five other Republicans. Hall received 45.42% of the vote, which was under 50%, the amount required to avoid a runoff election. In the runoff, Hall faced former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe, who finished second in the primary with 28.77% of the vote. On May 27, 2014, Ratcliffe defeated Hall in the runoff election, 53% to 47%.
Hall is a lifelong resident of Rockwall County, northeast of Dallas. He was born in Fate, Texas. He graduated from Rockwall High School in 1941. He joined the U.S. Navy on December 10, 1942, serving as an aircraft carrier pilot from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant.
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