While Northeast Texans bid an ever so fond farewell to U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall on Saturday, the landmarks he left on his extensive public service career will likely be a marvel to many. Here's a look at his career by the numbers:
50 years
of public service
34 years
as congressman (1981-2015)
10 years
as state senator (1962-1972)
12 years
as county judge (1950-1962)
3 years
in the military. Hall served as a fighter pilot during World War II.
2 congressional
districts
Hall served in Texas' 1st U.S. Congressional District, which became part of the 4th District in 2003.
two parties
Hall served as both a Democrat and a Republican. Though he started his congressional career in the Democratic party, Hall spent his last 10 years in office as a member of the GOP.
91
At age 91, Hall became the oldest member to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
17
consecutive terms
in the House.
18,549
votes cast
FIVE
presidential administrations. Hall served with presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
ONE.
Hall became the last World War II veteran to serve in congress.
As for a testament of how Hall improved people's lives, one of his former district assistants, Eric Cain, had this to say:
"In 2004, I called directory assistance for Rockwall, Texas, and got Ralph's home number," Cain said. "He answered and I told him that I wanted to be the first to welcome him to the Republican Party of Northeast Texas -to which he replied that I was the very first. That turned out to be one of the best calls I ever made. Mr. Hall encouraged me to return to school and finish my degree. He even offered me a paid internship if I would finish, and when I graduated, he offered me a full-time position. This turned into an almost 10-year career with the U.S. House of Representatives. As it turned out, my current job, my closest friends and even my marriage-none of it would have ever happened without that one phone call and without the help and support of Ralph Hall."