Anthony William Hall, Jr., a distinguished former national president of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the Boulé, serving from 1996 to 1998, and a licensed commercial-rated pilot, was born on September 16, 1944, in Houston, Texas, to Anthony William Hall, Sr. and Quintana Wilson Hall Alliniece, a mathematics teacher.
His education began in the racially segregated Sunnyside Elementary School and William E. Miller Junior High School, culminating in his graduation from Jack Yates Senior High School in 1963. He then pursued higher education at Howard University in Washington, DC, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, graduating cum laude in 1967. While at Howard he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Following his graduation, Hall served in the U.S. Army as a commissioned second lieutenant from 1967 to 1971, achieving the rank of captain with tours in Berlin, Germany, and South Vietnam. In that country he earned a Purple Heart and three Bronze Stars for his exemplary service.
Hall returned to Houston and embarked on a political career. From 1972 to 1979, Hall served as a State Representative in the Texas House of Representatives where he represented District 85. In 1978 Hall was elected to the Houston City Council in 1978. During his tenure he focused on issues related to civil rights, economic development, and equitable public policy. In 1982 Hall earned a Juris Doctorate in Law from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
In 1990, Hall broke barriers as the first African American chairman of the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority. While in that post he brought attention to issues of transportation equity and accessibility. He also had a notable career as a partner in the prestigious Houston law firm of Jackson Walker, LLP, until 1998.
From 1998 to 2004, Hall distinguished himself as the City Attorney for the City of Houston. He served as the principal legal advisor to all city departments and the City Council while managing a team of over 100 attorneys. He then served as Chief Administrative Officer for Houston from 2004 to 2010 for Houston Mayor Bill White. He also served as a director of The Coastal Corporation. In 2010, he was appointed Chairman of the Houston Endowment, Inc. Board of Directors, overseeing assets exceeding $1.4 billion, further demonstrating his leadership and financial acumen.
From 2012 to 2014, Hall served as Chairman of the Boulé Foundation, a nonprofit entity that provides scholarships and grants to students in need. The following year, 2015, the National NAACP gave him the prestigious Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award in recognition of his longtime service to civil rights and community development.
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