Bill Cobey

William Wilfred Cobey Jr. (born May 13, 1939) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served one term in the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 4th congressional district from 1985 to 1987.

For the University of Maryland athletic director, see William W. Cobey.
Bill Cobey
Chair of the North Carolina State Board of Education
In office
2013–2018
Preceded byWilliam C. Harrison
Succeeded byEric Davis
Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party
In office
May 22, 1999 – July 21, 2003
Preceded bySam Currin
Succeeded byFerrell Blount
Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources
In office
1989–1993
GovernorJames G. Martin
Preceded byS. Thomas Rhodes
Succeeded byJonathan B. Howes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byIke Franklin Andrews
Succeeded byDavid Price
Personal details
Born
William Wilfred Cobey, Jr.

(1939-05-13) May 13, 1939
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceChapel Hill, North Carolina
Alma materEmory University (BA)
University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
University of Pittsburgh (MEd)
OccupationRetired

Biography

Cobey was born in Washington, D.C. and reared in the suburb of University Park in Prince George's County, Maryland. His father, William W. Cobey, Sr., was the athletic director for the University of Maryland from 1956 to 1969. Cobey is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. Cobey also earned an M.B.A. in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and an M.Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Early career

Cobey originally worked as a bank administrative assistant and then as a chemical salesman. In 1968, he became, like his father, an athletic administrator. From 1976 to 1980, he was athletic director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1][2] In the early 1980s, he was the president of his own corporation, Cobey & Associates.

Congress

In 1980, Cobey was the Republican nominee for North Carolina Lieutenant Governor. In 1984, he was elected to represent North Carolina's 4th congressional district in the U.S. Congress. However, he was defeated in a bid for re-election in 1986 by the Democrat David Price.

Later career

After serving in Congress, Cobey joined the administration of North Carolina Governor James G. Martin, first as Deputy Secretary of Transportation and then as Secretary of the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources. After serving as town manager of Morrisville, North Carolina, he did government relations consulting for Capitol Link, Inc.

Cobey served two terms (1999–2003) as the voluntary chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.[3] He replaced Sam Currin.[4] Under Cobey's leadership, the state party purchased a new headquarters building. He was succeeded by Ferrell Blount as party chair.[5]

Cobey was one of the leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination to challenge Democratic Governor Mike Easley in the 2004 election. In July 2003, Cobey received the endorsement of former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms in the Republican primary contest. Rarely had Helms endorsed any candidate in primaries, other than Ronald W. Reagan for the 1976 presidential nomination. In the July 2004 Republican primary, Cobey ran a strong third with 26.7% of the vote (97,461 votes), lagging behind nominee Patrick Ballantine (30.3% and 110,726 votes) and Richard Vinroot (29.9% and 109,217 votes).

In 2007-2008, Cobey was the North Carolina campaign chairman for defeated presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas.[6]

From 2005-2012, Cobey was a presidential-appointee to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directions, which governs Reagan National and Dulles Airports. He is a former chairman of the board at Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, a former board chairman of the Jesse Helms Foundation, and a former president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA. From 2013-2018, he was chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education, a board member for the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a member of the NC Education Workforce Innovation Commission, and a member of the governor's education cabinet.

Personal life

Cobey resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his wife, Nancy. They have two children and five grandchildren.

References
  1. Rosen, Ron (27 March 1980). "Boycott: Pro and Con". Washington Post. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. "UNC Tar Heels Traditions". GoHeels.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  3. "NCGOP: Officers". www.ncgop.org. Archived from the original on 13 April 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  4. "State Gop Picks New Chairman\ Delegates to the State Republican Convention Say They Picked Bill Cobey Because They Think He'll Help Them Win Elections".
  5. "NCGOP: Officers". www.ncgop.org. Archived from the original on 17 August 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. "Huckabee on a roll into Greensboro | newsobserver.com projects". Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
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