Tony Coelho
| Tony Coelho | |
|---|---|
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| House Majority Whip | |
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In office January 3, 1987 – June 15, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Foley |
| Succeeded by | Bill Gray |
| Chairperson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | |
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In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | James Corman |
| Succeeded by | Beryl Anthony |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 15th district |
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In office January 3, 1979 – June 15, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Bernie Sisk |
| Succeeded by | Gary Condit |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anthony Lee Coelho June 15, 1942 Los Banos, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Loyola Marymount University |
Anthony Lee Coelho, known as Tony Coelho (born June 15, 1942), is an American politician, a Democratic former United States U.S. representative from California. He was the primary sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act and is a former chairman and current member of the board of directors of the Epilepsy Foundation.
Coelho was born in rural Los Banos, California, to parents of Portuguese descent, attended public schools in nearby Dos Palos, and grew up working on his family’s dairy farm. At age 15, Coelho was injured in a pickup truck accident, which doctors later suggested was the precipitating event for the onset of his epilepsy. For years after the accident, Coelho did not know he had the illness.
Coelho graduated with a B.A. from Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) in 1964. At Loyola, he was initiated as a brother in Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and a member of the prestigious Crimson Circle, and later was elected Student Body President during his senior year.
After the Kennedy assassination, Coelho decided to become a priest. He went to a doctor for a medical exam, a prerequisite for entering into the seminary. The doctor informed him that he had epilepsy. Because of canon law, he was unable to become a priest. Once the diagnosis was reported to the state, Coelho lost both his driver's license and his health insurance.
Coelho worked as a staff member for Congressman Bernie Sisk from 1965 until 1978. By 1970, Coelho was serving as Sisk’s administrative assistant. He enhanced his expertise in agriculture policy as staff director for the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Cotton. As staff coordinator for the House Rules Subcommittee on Broadcasting, on which Sisk served, Coelho helped develop the procedures that made possible the television coverage of the House proceedings via C-SPAN. When Sisk retired, Coelho ran for his seat and won.
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