21 Facts About Howard Coble

John Howard Coble was an American politician who was the US Representative for, serving from 1985 to 2015.

Howard Coble was a member of the Epsilon Iota chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Howard Coble then spent nearly 20 years as a practicing attorney, and he was Secretary of Revenue under North Carolina Governor James Holshouser.

In 1979, Howard Coble was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives, serving until his election to Congress.

Howard Coble was likely the beneficiary of long coattails from Ronald Reagan, who carried the district by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

In July 2008, Howard Coble won the Republican primary unopposed and became North Carolina's longest-serving Republican US congressman, surpassing former US Congressman Jim Broyhill.

Howard Coble announced in 2013 that he would not run for another term in 2014, and would retire after 30 years in Congress.

Howard Coble was a strong supporter of agriculture and had voted in favor of bills to protect agriculture.

Howard Coble opposed further regulation of tobacco because he believed it would hurt North Carolina tobacco planters.

Howard Coble took a hard-line position on illegal drugs, and co-sponsored a resolution to oppose the legalization and use of medical marijuana.

Howard Coble voted for an amendment to authorize drug testing on federal employees.

Howard Coble pledged not to receive any pension from the United States government.

Howard Coble said that although 800,000 federal workers are furloughed and not receiving a paycheck, he will still collect his salary due to a requirement of law.

In June 2013, Howard Coble announced introduction of new legislation to reform the congressional pension program.

Howard Coble refused to participate in the congressional pension program, stating that reforming congressional pensions was long overdue and that the bill would lengthen the time of service required before a member would be eligible for participation in the pension program.

Howard Coble sponsored the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, in 1997, a bill fundamental to the foundation of internet law.

Howard Coble was a member of the Guilford College Board of Visitors and of the US Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors.

Howard Coble was a Freemason and member of Guilford Lodge number 656 in Greensboro.

Howard Coble had skin cancer for many years among other ailments.

Howard Coble was admitted to intensive care in September 2015 after complications from skin cancer surgery.

Howard Coble died in hospital on November 3,2015, in Greensboro, North Carolina at the age of 84 from complications of the surgery.