35 Facts About Bob Wise

In 2005 Bob Wise became the president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, a nonprofit organization that focuses on reforming the nation's high schools.

Bob Wise was raised in the Kanawha Valley of Kanawha County, West Virginia, with his two sisters and attended George Washington High School in nearby Charleston.

Bob Wise's father worked in insurance, for McDonough Caperton Group, for thirty years.

Bob Wise has won every election he's been in since then.

Bob Wise enrolled at Duke University in 1966, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science four years later.

Bob Wise relocated to Texas for his studies, eventually transferring to the Tulane University School of Law.

Bob Wise waited tables in New Orleans, working nightshifts while he obtained his Juris Doctor.

Bob Wise graduated from Tulane in 1975 and opened his first law practice in Charleston.

Bob Wise advocated for coal miners seeking workers compensation and supported community renewal efforts for the 1972 Buffalo Creek disaster victims.

Bob Wise began his political career in 1980, running for public office against State Senate President William Brotherton in the County Democratic primary in Kanawha.

In 1982, Bob Wise ran for the United States Congress.

Bob Wise came out of a highly competitive Democratic primary victorious and continued on to beat incumbent Republican congressman Mick Staton with 58 percent of the vote.

Bob Wise represented the Second Congressional District which reaches from Harpers Ferry to the Ohio River and is considered to be one of the largest Districts eastward of the Mississippi River.

In 2000, after 18 years in congress, Bob Wise left his secure seat and returned to West Virginia to win the Democratic Primary for governorship with 63 percent of the vote.

Bob Wise highlighted the economy, education, health care, and the energy industry in his campaign speeches.

Bob Wise was sworn in as governor on January 15,2001, by Circuit Judge Dan O'Hanlon.

Shortly after taking the position of governor, Bob Wise had to deal with widespread flooding in record amounts throughout southern West Virginia.

In education, Bob Wise pushed for the funding of his Promise scholarships.

Bob Wise was the first governor to propose full funding for the Higher Education Grant Program.

Bob Wise set up the Governor's Hotline for Safer Schools, and put forward legislation to bring a in pre-Kindergarten programs that would cover all the state's four-year-olds.

Halfway through his first term as governor, recession hit the United States economy and Bob Wise introduced spending cuts of 10 percent to deal with demands on state revenue while still attempting to make improvements to infrastructure and reduce long-term debt.

Bob Wise attempted to attract businesses through an extensive tax and infrastructure assistance program.

Bob Wise turned his attention to mountaintop removal practices and malpractice insurance costs during this period.

In December 2002, Bob Wise was elected chairman of the Southern Governors Association during his gubernatorial term and the following year.

Bob Wise was chaired the National Governors Association Committee on Natural Resources and the Southern States Energy Board.

In 2003, Bob Wise admitted to an affair with a married woman and stated that he would not seek reelection in 2004.

Since 2005, Bob Wise has been president of Alliance for Excellent Education, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship.

From 2009 to 2015, Bob Wise served as the Chairman of the Board of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

In June 2012, Bob Wise presided over the 25th anniversary celebration of the NBPTS in the Mansfield Room of the US Capitol.

Bob Wise has become a much in-demand speaker on education issues.

Bob Wise serves in an advisory capacity to the US Department of Education, White House, the US Congress, and National High School Center.

In 2010, along with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Bob Wise put together the Digital Learning Council.

Bob Wise received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Thought Leader Award in 2013.

Bob Wise was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery in 1999.

Bob Wise serves on the board of advisors for the Moffitt Cancer Center.