The Rev. Dr. Phale D. Hale, Sr. the Pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church, 266 N. Champion Ave. in Columbus, Oh. Dr. Hale served 14 years as a member of The Ohio House of Representatives (1966-1980). While in the Ohio House, he served as Chairman of the Committee of Human Resources for eight years. He served five years as Chairman of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (1983-1988). Dr. Hale earned his bachelor's degree at Morehouse College and his master's degree at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Ga. He received two honorary doctorate degrees. Dr. Hale was the sixth of twelve children of sharecropper p arents in Greenwood, Miss., where he spent his early years before hoboing to Buffalo, N.Y. From a very humble beginning, Rev. Hale worked against the odds to get an education, support his family, raise and educate his children and help the people in his community and in this country. He has demonstrated in many ways his sincere interest in the welfare of the church and community. He was one of the leaders who continued to fight for equality and justice in Columbus and throughout this country. With courageous determination, Rev. Hale strived for a better life for all people. Though known as a pioneer in many fields of public service, his greatest devotions were to those of low income for whom he zealously worked to avail better housing at an affordable price; he worked to upgrade the educational opportunities so that people can obtain better jobs, thus fostering a higher standard of living. Dr. Hale motivated people to seek the spiritual life by leading them to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith and the provider of all of our needs. Dr. Hale was one of the outstanding personalities in pioneering, developing job opportunities and motivating community participation on the behalf of those who graduate from school and seek jobs through such vehicles as the NAACP (of which he served as president for many years).

Full obituary published by The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, OH,