Howard Coble facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard Coble
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 6th district |
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| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Robin Britt |
| Succeeded by | Mark Walker |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 27th district |
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| In office 1983–1985 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Bell Hunter |
| Succeeded by | Albert S. Lineberry Frank Julian Sizemore, III |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 23rd district |
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| In office 1979–1983 |
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| Preceded by | Henry E. Frye Thomas Odell Gilmore Thomas B. Sawyer William Marcus Short Charles Edward Webb |
| Succeeded by | George W. Miller, Jr. William Paul Pulley, Jr. Kenneth Bridgeforth Spaulding |
| Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue | |
| In office 1973–1977 |
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| Governor | James Holshouser |
| Preceded by | Gilmer Andrew Jones, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Mark G. Lynch |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 26th district |
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| In office 1969–1971 |
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| Preceded by | Hargrove Skipper Bowles, Jr. Elton Edwards James Gooden Exum, Jr. Charles Wesley Phillips Daniel P. Whitley, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Clifton Tredway Hunt, Jr. John McNeill Smith, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Howard Coble
March 18, 1931 Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 2015 (aged 84) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Appalachian State University Guilford College (AB) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (JD) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1952–1956 1977–1978 1960–1982 (USCGR) |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
John Howard Coble (March 18, 1931 – November 3, 2015) was an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 6th district. He held this position from 1985 to 2015. Coble was a member of the Republican Party. His district covered parts of ten counties in central North Carolina. This included areas of Greensboro and Durham.
Early Life and Career
Growing Up in North Carolina
Howard Coble was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. His parents were Johnnie E. (Holt) and Joseph Howard Coble. After finishing high school, he first attended Appalachian State University.
Military Service and Education
After one year of college, Coble joined the United States Coast Guard. He served for over five years. He then continued as a reservist for another 18 years. After his military service, he went to Guilford College. There, he earned a degree in history. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Later, Coble studied law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his law degree there.
Before Becoming a Congressman
After college, Coble worked as an insurance agent. He then practiced law for nearly 20 years. He also served as the Secretary of Revenue for North Carolina. This was under Governor James Holshouser. In 1979, Coble was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives. He served there until he was elected to Congress.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
How He Was Elected
Howard Coble was first elected to Congress in 1984. He won a close election against Robin Britt. This victory was likely helped by Ronald Reagan's popularity. Reagan was very popular in Coble's district. In 1986, Coble won a very close rematch against Britt. He won by only 79 votes. After these first two elections, he won easily many more times. He was reelected 13 more times with large majorities.
In 2008, Coble became North Carolina's longest-serving Republican U.S. Congressman. He announced in 2013 that he would retire. He left Congress after 30 years of service.
His Time in Congress
Coble was a strong supporter of agriculture. He voted for bills that helped protect farming. He also opposed new rules for tobacco. He believed these rules would harm tobacco farmers in North Carolina.
Coble was a member of the Tea Party Caucus. This group focused on limited government and lower taxes.
Refusing His Pension
Howard Coble promised not to take a pension from the U.S. government. He said taxpayers paid him a good salary already. He felt that was enough. He was one of only two Congressmen who pledged to refuse their pension.
During a government shutdown in 2013, Coble still collected his salary. He explained that a law required him to do so. He also voted for the bill that ended the shutdown. In June 2013, Coble suggested new laws to change the congressional pension program. He believed these changes were needed.
Laws He Helped Create
Coble introduced a bill in 2013 to extend the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988. This law prevents plastic guns that cannot be detected by metal detectors. The bill passed the House of Representatives.
Coble also sponsored the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in 1997. This law is very important for how the internet works. It deals with copyright rules in the digital world.
Where He Worked in Congress
Coble served on several important committees:
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Aviation
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
- Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Groups He Joined
Coble was also part of several groups in Congress:
- Congressional Fire Services Caucus
- Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans
- International Conservation Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- Tea Party Caucus
Personal Life
Unique Breakfast Choice
When he was younger, Coble often ate a special breakfast. It was Rose brand pork brains in milk gravy with eggs. He said this meal was "fairly regular" and "not at all unusual" for him.
Community Involvement
Coble was a member of the Board of Visitors for Guilford College. He also served on the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He was a Freemason and belonged to Guilford Lodge number 656 in Greensboro.
Later Years and Passing
Coble had skin cancer for many years. In September 2015, he was admitted to intensive care. This was due to problems after surgery for his skin cancer. He passed away in a hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, on November 3, 2015. He was 84 years old.
