Tom Cole

Biography

COLE, Tom, a Representative from Oklahoma; born in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, La., on April 28, 1949; an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation; graduated from Moore High School, Moore, Okla., 1967; B.A., Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, 1971; M.A., Yale University, New Haven, Conn., 1974; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla., 1984; consultant; graduate assistant, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.; faculty, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Okla.; staff, United States Representative Marvin (Mickey) Edwards of Oklahoma, 1982-1984; chairman, Oklahoma Republican Party, 1985-1989; private advocate; member of the Oklahoma state senate, 1988-1991; executive director, National Republican Congressional Committee, 1991-1993; Oklahoma secretary of state, 1995-1999; chief of staff, Republican National Committee, 1999-2001; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Eighth and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2003-present); chair, Committee on Rules (One Hundred Eighteenth Congress); chair, Committee on Appropriations (One Hundred Eighteenth and One Hundred Nineteenth Congresses).