The HistoryMakers

Attorney Anthony William Hall, Jr. was born on September 16, 1944 in Houston, Texas to Quintanna Wilson Hall Alliniece and Anthony William Hall, Sr. Hall received his B.A. degree from Howard University in 1967. After serving in the military from 1967 to 1971, Hall obtained his J.D. degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 1982.

After working for the Harris County Commissions office between 1971 and 1972, Hall was first elected to the Houston City Council. In 1979, upon his appointment, Hall was just the third African American man after Judson W. Robinson, Jr. and Ernest McGowen, to be elected to the city council in Houston.

In 1990, Hall became the first black and minority chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Metro was created as a response to the public's desire to have an efficient and reliable transportation system that would replace the existing malfunctioning busing structure in Houston. During this time, Hall also became one of only three African Americans among the 50 partners in the Houston law firm, Jackson Walker, LLP. The firm, which has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo and San Antonio, represented clients in litigation, intellectual property, health care, labor and employment, technology, bankruptcy and numerous other fields.

In 1998, Hall began serving as the City Attorney for the City of Houston until 2004, when he became the Chief Administrative Officer for the city. Hall's key responsibilities include implementing some of the Administrations significant priorities, participating in the budget process and overseeing the Houston community's safety issues.

Hall has devoted many years of his life to public service. He has been given several awards for outstanding civic work including the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program's Heart of Houston, the Black Achiever Award from the YMCA and the Cotton Hook of the Year Award. Hall is also the Chairman of the Boulé Foundation and is involved with Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, serving as the past national president of the organization, and is currently on the board of trustees.

Hall was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on August 9, 2007.