Katie Hall (American politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katie Hall
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 1st district |
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| In office November 2, 1982 – January 3, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Adam Benjamin Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Pete Visclosky |
| Member of the Indiana Senate from the 3rd district |
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| In office November 3, 1976 – November 10, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Rudy Clay. |
| Succeeded by | Carolyn Brown Mosby |
| Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 5th district |
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| In office November 6, 1974 – November 3, 1976 |
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| Preceded by | Robert L. Freeland, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Rayfield Fisher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Katie Beatrice Green
April 3, 1938 Mound Bayou, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | February 20, 2012 (aged 73) Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | John Henry Hall |
| Residences | Gary, Indiana |
| Alma mater | Mississippi Valley State University (BS) Indiana University, Bloomington (MS) |
| Occupation | Educator |
Katie Beatrice Hall (April 3, 1938 – February 20, 2012) was an American teacher and politician from Gary, Indiana. She made history as the first black woman from Indiana to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She served in Congress from 1982 to 1985.
Katie Hall is especially known for her important work in 1983. She led the effort to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. This bill, H.R. 3706, was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983. This made the third Monday in January a special day to honor Dr. King.
Before joining Congress, Hall served in the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate. She was also active in the Democratic Party at the state and local levels.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Katie Beatrice Green was born on April 3, 1938, in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Her parents were Jeff and Bessie Mae Green. She went to public schools in Mound Bayou.
Katie earned her first college degree, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), from Mississippi Valley State University in 1960. Later, she earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in education from Indiana University in 1968.
Family Life
Katie Green married John Henry Hall on August 15, 1957. They had three daughters together: Jacqueline, Junifer, and Michelle.
A Career in Public Service
Starting in Local Politics
After finishing her education, Katie and her husband, John, moved to Gary, Indiana. Katie became a social studies teacher in the city's public schools. Her interest in politics began in 1962. She helped with Richard Hatcher's successful campaign to become mayor of Gary. In 1972, she ran for city councilwoman but did not win. However, just two years later, she successfully ran for a seat in the state legislature.
Serving Indiana
Katie Hall served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1974 to 1976. After that, she became a member of the Indiana Senate, serving from 1976 to 1982. During these years, she was also involved in the Democratic Party. She was a delegate at a Democratic convention in 1978. She also chaired the Democratic Committee for Lake County, Indiana, from 1978 to 1980. In 1980, she chaired the Indiana State Democratic convention.
Journey to Congress
In September 1982, U.S. Congressman Adam Benjamin, Jr. passed away. The mayor of Gary, Richard G. Hatcher, chose Katie Hall to run for his open seat. She ran in a special election to finish Benjamin's term. She also ran for a full two-year term in the next Congress.
Because the district was strongly Democratic, Katie Hall's selection meant she was very likely to win. She won both elections, defeating the Republican candidate, Thomas Krieger. She received 63 percent of the votes for the remainder of the term and 58 percent for the full term.
Making History in Congress
Katie Hall was sworn into office on November 2, 1982. This made her the first African American woman from Indiana to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She served for a few months in the 97th Congress and then a full two-year term in the 98th Congress (1983–1985).
In Congress, Hall was part of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. She also chaired a subcommittee focused on population. She also served on the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
As a new congresswoman in 1983, Katie Hall took on a very important project. She sponsored a bill and led the effort to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. This idea had been discussed for over fourteen years without success. Hall's bill, H.R. 3706, proposed the holiday be on the third Monday in January. The House of Representatives passed her bill with a strong vote of 338 to 90. The U.S. Senate also approved it with a vote of 78 to 22. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 2, 1983.
Hall also supported efforts to help the steel industry in Gary. She also traveled to Ethiopia twice, becoming interested in helping with famine relief in Africa.
In May 1984, Katie Hall ran for re-election. She faced two other candidates in the Democratic primary. She narrowly lost to Peter Visclosky by a small number of votes. She tried to win back the seat in 1986 and 1990 but was not successful.
After Congress
After her time in Congress ended in 1985, Katie Hall returned to public service in Gary, Indiana. She continued to be active in Democratic politics. She also served in local government as the vice chairperson of the Gary Housing Board of Commissioners. Later, she became the City Clerk of Gary in 1985. She retired from teaching in the Gary School Corporation in 2004.
Legacy
Katie Hall passed away from heart failure in Gary, Indiana, on February 20, 2012. She was seventy-three years old.
She is remembered as a trailblazer for being the first black woman from Indiana to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her most lasting legacy is her successful effort to establish Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday. This important holiday celebrates Dr. King's life and work every year on the third Monday in January.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
