Republican Rep. Ralph Hall of Texas turns 90 years old on Friday, becoming the first congressman ever to reach that mark.
Hall, who last year broke the age record for a member of the House previously held by North Carolina Democrat Charles Stedman — who died at 89 in 1930 — hinted he may seek re-election in 2014.
Hall recently told reporters, “I have no ailments. I don’t hurt anywhere. I may run again. I’ll just wait and see.”
When I first met Hall in 1980 when he was a first-time House candidate, the former Rockwall County state senator, then a Democrat, relayed how his Republican opponent was saying that he was too old to begin a career in Congress at age 57.
“I don’t want to say anything bad about the lousy guy,” Hall quipped with a wink, “but I’m in fine shape to do whatever I want.” He went on to win easily, despite the Reagan-Bush Republican ticket sweeping his state.
John Gizzi is a special columnist for Newsmax.com.
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