Katie Hall

Katie Beatrice Hall (April 3, 1938 – February 20, 2012) was an American educator in Gary, Indiana, and a politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1982 to 1985. When Hall was sworn into federal office on November 2, 1982, she became the first black woman from Indiana to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Hall represented Indiana's 1st Congressional District in the final months of the 97th Congress and an entire two-year term in the 98th Congress from 1983 to 1985. She is best known for sponsoring legislation and leading efforts on the floor of the U.S. House in 1983 to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday after previous efforts had failed. H.R. 3706 to establish the third Monday in January as a federal holiday in King's honor was introduced in July 1983 and passed in the House on August 2, 1983. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 2, 1983.

Prior to her election to the U.S. House, Hall served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1974 to 1976, and as a member of the Indiana Senate from 1976 to 1982. She was also a delegate to the Democratic Mini Convention in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1978; chairperson of the Lake County, Indiana, Democratic Committee from 1978 to 1980; and chairperson of the Indiana State Democratic convention in 1980. Hall was defeated in her bid for reelection to the U.S. Congress in the Democratic primary in May 1984, narrowly losing to Peter Visclosky by 2,367 votes. She also lost two subsequent efforts against Visclosky in 1986 and 1990 to recapture Indiana's 1st District seat in the U.S. House. After serving in Congress, Hall was vice chairperson of the Gary Housing Board of Commissioners. In 1985, she became the city clerk of Gary; however, she resigned the position in January 2003 after signing a plea agreement related to mail fraud. Hall was subsequently sentenced to house arrest and probation. She retired from teaching in the Gary public schools in 2004.

Early life and education Katie Beatrice Green was born on April 3, 1938, to Jeff and Bessie Mae (Hooper) Green at Mound Bayou in Bolivar County, Mississippi. She attended the public schools of Mound Bayou and earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi, in 1960 and a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1968.

Personal life Katie Green married John Henry Hall on August 15, 1957. They were the parents of three daughters: Jacqueline Hall, Junifer Hall, and Michelle Hall.

Career Early years After completing her education, Katie and her husband, John, moved to Gary, Indiana, where she became a social studies teacher in the city's public schools. Her involvement in local politics began in 1962 when she worked on Richard Hatcher's successful campaign to become mayor of Gary.

U.S. congresswoman Hall was sworn into office on November 2, 1982, becoming the first African American from Indiana elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She served in the final months of the 97th Congress and an entire two-year term in the 98th Congress (1983–85). Hall was a member of the House Committee of Post Office and Civil Service and chaired its Subcommittee on Census and Population. She also served on the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.

In other legislation, Hall supported measures to reduce unemployment in her district, as well as efforts to reduce crime, substance abuse, and family bankruptcy. As a member House's Steel Caucus, she also endorsed Fair Trade in Steel Act, which was "intended to revitalize Gary’s ailing steel industry." Katie Hall resigned as Gary's city clerk in January 2003 after signing a plea agreement related to mail fraud. She was sentenced to house arrest and probation. Junifer Hall was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison.

Later years Hall retired from teaching in the Gary School Corporation in 2004.

Death and legacy Katie Hall died of heart failure at Gary, Indiana, on February 20, 2012, at the age of seventy-three.

Hall, the first black woman from Indiana elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, is remembered for sponsoring legislation in the U.S. House in 1983 to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday on the third Monday in January. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 2, 1983.