78R18017 KMP-D

By:  Merritt                                                      H.R. No. 1585



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, For nearly a quarter-century, the Honorable Ralph M. 
Hall of the U.S. House of Representatives has ably served his 
constituents in the Fourth Congressional District, and the members 
of this chamber are proud to join with the citizens of the Lone Star 
State in paying tribute to this accomplished public servant; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Rockwall County on May 3, 1923, Congressman 
Hall answered his country's call to arms in 1942, enlisting in the 
United States Navy to serve as an aircraft carrier pilot during 
World War II; on his return to civilian life, he attended college at 
The University of Texas at Austin and at Texas Christian University 
and earned a bachelor of laws degree from Southern Methodist 
University; and
	WHEREAS, In 1950 this outstanding Texan held public office 
for the first time as the county judge of Rockwall County, leaving 
in 1962 to take his oath of office as a new member of the Texas 
Senate; he served in that capacity with great distinction for the 
next 10 years, holding the position of president pro tempore during 
one of his terms; and
	WHEREAS, Following his departure from the Texas Legislature 
in 1972, he turned his attention to the private sector; he is the 
former president and CEO of Texas Aluminum Corporation and, from 
1970 to 1974, served as special counsel to the Howmet Corporation; 
he is also a founding member and former chairman of Lakeside 
National Bank in Rockwall; and
	WHEREAS, With his extensive expertise in law, public service, 
and business, the Honorable Ralph Hall was elected to the United 
States House of Representatives in 1980; a longtime member of the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, he played a key role in the 
passage of the Clean Air Act and has, over the years, shown himself 
to be an ardent advocate for our state's oil and gas industries; and
	WHEREAS, Congressman Hall is the former chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics and a current member of the 
Committee on Science who has strongly supported the International 
Space Station and NASA's continuing space exploration efforts; 
veterans of the United States armed forces could ask for no greater 
friend than this former naval lieutenant, and his fiscal 
conservatism is well-known throughout Washington, D.C., leading 
him in 1995 to sign on as one of the original sponsors of the 
Balanced Budget Amendment; and
	WHEREAS, This dedicated leader has an impressive record of 
service in behalf of the people of Texas, and indeed of the entire 
nation, and it is a privilege and an honor to recognize his many 
remarkable achievements; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend the countless contributions of the 
Honorable Ralph M. Hall, U.S. congressman and former state senator, 
and extend to him best wishes for continued success; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Congressman Hall as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.