Christmas Day was history-making for Congressman Ralph Hall of Texas, who became the oldest member ever to serve in the House of Representatives.

As of December 25, the Republican eclipsed the age mark set by former Representative Charles Manly Stedman of North Carolina by one day. Stedman was 89 years, 7 months and 25 days when he died in office in 1930.

Hall was 57 when he was first elected to Congress in 1980, and will begin serving his 17th term next month.

While he is the oldest member in the House, Hall is not its longest serving. That distinction belongs to Michigan Democrat John Dingell, 86, who was first elected in 1955.

Hall has been a Republican for only nine years, after switching parties in 2004 to boost his chances of reelection after redistricting changed the makeup of his northeast Texas seat.

He does not hold the record for the oldest person to serve in Congress. That distinction goes to another party switcher, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who left the Senate on January 3, 2003, at the age of 100.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Texas' Ralph Hall, 89, Going Strong As He Becomes Oldest U.S. House Member Ever (by Todd Gilman, Dallas Morning News)

Texas Rep. Ralph Hall, Re-Elected To 17th Term At Age 89, To Be Oldest U.S. House Member Ever (Associated Press)