Tom Copeland

Thomas L. Copeland (born April 17, 1924) is an American former politician from Washington.

Tom Copeland
Copeland in 1967
35th Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives
Acting
In office
March 12, 1970  January 11, 1971
Preceded byDon Eldridge
Succeeded byThomas A. Swayze Jr.
Speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 1967  January 8, 1973
Preceded byAvery Garrett
Succeeded byJohn L. O'Brien
Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1965  January 9, 1967
Preceded byDaniel J. Evans
Succeeded byJohn L. O'Brien
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 11th district
In office
January 14, 1957  January 8, 1973
Preceded byLester L. Robison
Succeeded byA. N. “Bud” Shinpoch
Personal details
Born (1924-04-17) April 17, 1924
Pendleton, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Donna Edwards
(m.1973–present)
Dolly Doble
(m.?–1970; her death)

Copeland was born to Edwin and Delia Copeland in Pendleton, Oregon. He served in the United States Army during World War II, serving in Europe as a tank destroyer commander. After the conclusion of the war, he stayed with the Army as an administrator and was eventually promoted to captain.[1] He is an alumnus of Washington State University, where he majored in agricultural engineering.

Copeland was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1957, for District 11, which encompassed the counties of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield and parts of Walla Walla. He is a Republican. He served until 1972; during his time he served stints as Whip (1961, 1963), Minority Leader (1965), and Speaker pro tempore (1967–1972).[2] In 1972, he retired to run for the Washington State Senate, however he was unsuccessful in his election, later opting to retire from politics.[3]

He was married to Dolly Doble, whom he met at college, until her death in 1970. They had three children. In 1973, he married Donna Edwards; the couple lives in Arizona.[1]

References

  1. "Thomas L. "Tom" Copeland - State Representative". Washington Secretary of State.
  2. "State of Washington Members of the Legislature, 1889 – 2011" (PDF). Washington State Legislature. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 20, 2022.
  3. Kilgannon, Anne (2007). "Thomas L. Copeland, An Oral History" (PDF). Washington State Legislature.


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