On The Record: J. B. Hall

For this installment of On The Record, we speak with J. B. Hall, Committeeman from Senate District 28 and Constable for Tom Green County from San Angelo.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

I really began when we integrated schools here in 1955 at San Angelo High School. I became concerned while I was living in East St. Louis; I realized how quickly situations could change.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning Senate District 28?

The biggest concern for our Senate District is ensuring that there are county chairs in place in every county and from there focusing on filling any open precinct chairs, but we are definitely working on it. Effective precinct chairs are essential to grassroots organization.

Do you have any ambition for higher office? Do you have plans to run for any other party office, or possibly even public office?

After I retired from the Air Force in 1977, I became the 1st elected precinct chair in Tom Green County and African American to be chair. As precinct chair, my precinct had 1050 registered voters for the election of Jimmy Carter, and we turned out 950 of those registered to vote. If we had more precinct chairs now, we could do wonders. I am currently the Constable for Tom Green County, and I am content holding these positions.

Who are some of your political heroes?

Most of all, my hero is Barbara Jordan. I will never forget her comments during the impeachment of Nixon:

My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.

"We, the people…" It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that "We, the people." I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in "We, the people."

How we need more Barbara Jordans in Congress right now.

What advice would you give to young people just getting into politics?

It is very important to stay involved in politics because the government is by the people and for the people; therefore, look at your voter registration card as your instrument of justice, and always stay involved in what is now called politics, which is really known as the way of life.

Tell us a little bit about the SDEC, and what roles you fulfill, official or otherwise.

This year I am on the Rules Committee, and prior to that I was on the Grassroots Committee. While I was on the Grassroots Committee, I brought up the precinct chairs as a more visible job as someone to work for the party. Precinct chairs are the grassroots of the party. We’re still working to fill those chairs and it’s hard, hard, hard.

Statewide, we have eight county chairs left to fill out of 254. The counties are:

Armstrong
Cottle
Crockett
Dickens
Hall
Hansford
Ochiltree
Roberts
Terrell

If anybody knows of a good Democrat in these counties, please help us fill these chairs.