ROCKWALL, Texas-A cold shot of sorrow followed by rich words of tribute reflected the emotions felt by local officials and residents upon hearing the news of U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall's passing Thursday.
For 34 years, Northeast Texas residents remembered Hall, 95, as being one of the most spry, energetic, fun, witty, hard-working and dedicated public servants they ever met.
Starting out as a Democrat when first elected to serve as a U.S. congressman representing Northeast Texas' Fourth District in 1980, Hall went on to finish his last 10 years as a Republican, from 2004 to his electoral defeat in 2015.
"Ralph did so much for our district, our county and Texarkana," said Borden Bell, who served for a time as Hall's campaign chairman for the Fourth District. "Ralph was also a funny guy and used humor up to the very end. He was also a great and wonderful friend, and I will surely miss him."
Bowie County Judge James Carlow said both Hall and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Huchison played a crucial roll in the battles to keep Red River Army Depot open during the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's two reviews.
"Ralph was an extremely big and wonderful help to all of us in saving the depot," Carlow said. "Ralph was always a great and wonderful friend to me every time I got to visit with him in Washington, D.C., and he was always good at saying funny things that just happen to fit the right occasion. We always had a great time together and he brought a lot of help to Bowie County."
Former Texarkana, Texas, Mayor James Bramlett, said Hall made sure he was on the front lines when it came to battling BRACC, especially when the commission targeted both Red River Army Depot and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant in 2005.
"Ralph was always a true advocate for this whole area," Bramlett said. "He was always here right at the ground level himself. He never sent a representative. He always wanted to be here himself."
John Ratcliffe, who now serves as Fourth District representative, agreed.
"Today, the Fourth District of Texas lost a great leader, statesman and friend," said Ratcliffe in a prepared statement. "From his defense of our nation during World War II, through his time as our representative, Congressman Ralph Hall lived a remarkable life dedicated selflessly to serving his fellow citizens. Congressman Hall leaves behind a timeless legacy that will forever be remembered and appreciated by generations of Texans. Michele (Ratcliffe's wife) and I are keeping Ralph's family and loved ones in our prayers during this difficult time."
Jim Haltom, one of Hall's close friends, said that even though the Fourth District seemed big, Hall always managed to be on the scene, helping wherever he could.
"Ralph made it a point to get familiar with the whole district, and he came to Bowie County a lot," Haltom said. "Ralph was helpful to our workforce, and he was a first-class citizen in the way he would just go from town to town and visit. Ralph took great pleasure in working with people, and he supported our Chamber (of Commerce) here in Texarkana 100 percent. Ralph knew the needs of people and made sure that he not only met their needs but would continue to go beyond their needs and see that his people were always taken very good care of. Ralph worked with everyone to better the lives of people."
Eric Cain, who served as a district assistant for Hall's New Boston, Texas, office, said the representative had a wonderful talent for making everyone feel special.
"So many times, constituents would come back from D.C. and tell me about the special things Ralph did for them-and it made them feel like VIPs," Cain said. "I never had the heart to tell them that he treated everyone that way."
Before leaving Congress in January 2015, Hall became the oldest member of the U.S. House of Representatives to cast a vote. He also served on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, starting in January 1981, and became the committee's chairman in January 2011. He was also one of the last two World War II veterans to serve in Congress.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on March 16 at First United Methodist Church in Rockwall.