Former NC Rep. Howard Coble dead at 84

Former Rep. Howard Coble, the longest-serving GOP congressman from North Carolina, died late Tuesday after a lengthy hospital stay, according to local media reports. He was 84.

{mosads}Coble, who could be easily spotted around Capitol Hill due to his colorful plaid suit jackets, represented the Tar Heel State’s 6th congressional district for 30 years.

He decided not to seek reelection in 2014 due to health reasons, and was succeeded by conservative Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.).

“Howard Coble was a dedicated public servant and a champion for his constituents. He never backed down from a challenge to do what was right for NC & always pushed Washington to work better for those he represented, ” Rep. Virginia Foxx, his longtime GOP colleague from North Carolina, wrote in a series of tweets.

“He will be missed, but his legacy of service & devotion to NC will continue to be the standard that current and future leaders follow,” she added.

A veteran of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve, Coble served during the Korean War. He later became an attorney, and was appointed a U.S. assistant attorney in North Carolina from 1969 to 1973. For the next four years, Coble led the state’s Department of Revenue, and then launched his first congressional bid.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who served in the House with Coble, called it “a sad day for North Carolina,” but a “joyous occasion that Howard is once again with his parents he loved so much.”

“Howard Coble was a friend, colleague and a mentor. He was a true statesman and represented his constituents with passion and effectiveness,” Burr said in a statement. “Howard will be missed but never forgotten by all who called him friend.”