Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
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Rese R vist Magazine Reti R ee sit R ep Part of h ighway Named for Coble Story by David Sinclair, Managing Editor, The Pilot e ditor's n ote: Congressman Howard Coble served in the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve from 1952 to 1981. He passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2015 (RESERVIST, TAPS, Issue 1, 2016) Reprinted from an article posted to http://www.thepilot.com/news/ on December 1, 2016. The State of North Carolina has renamed a portion of Interstate 85 in Guilford County in honor of the late Congressman Howard Coble, who once represented Moore County. "Howard Coble was an amazing congressman who set the standard for sincerity, hard work and honesty in public service," said Gov. Pat McCrory, who joined the N.C. Board of Transportation Thursday to commemorate Coble with a resolution naming a portion of Interstate 85 in his honor. "I considered him a mentor and friend. Most importantly, he was a tireless advocate for his constituents. I'm proud that we can honor his legacy in this way." The resolution designates part of I-85 in Guilford County as the Congressman J. Howard Coble Highway. The section spans between I-40 and Alamance Church Road, the site of Coble's child- hood home. "Howard Coble epitomized public service," said transportation board member Pat Molamphy of Pinehurst. "He was always in the district. He was always available. He was a master of constituent services. That is is what true public service is about. That pretty much sums up Howard Coble." Coble was a lifelong resident of Guilford County and a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve. He served as an assistant federal prosecutor, state revenue secretary and state legislator prior to his first election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984. He represented the 6th District for 30 years until retiring in January 2015, and was the longest serving Republican House member in the state's history. His district included Moore County until 2010, when it moved to the 2nd District. Coble passed away on Nov. 3, 2015, at the age of 84, after an extended hospitalization. He suffered from complications from skin cancer surgery a year earlier. Over his three decades of service, Coble participated in hundreds of parades, attended countless covered- dish church dinners, Boy Scout ceremonies, school programs and civic group meetings, not to mention all of the campaign events throughout a political career dating back to the late 1960s. A hallmark of Coble's 30 years in Congress was his constituent service, hailed as "legendary" among his colleagues, according to his longtime chief of state Ed McDonald. A confirmed bachelor, Coble was known for his trademark fedora and colorful sports jackets. Before his career in Congress, he served in the N.C. House in 1969 and again from 1979 through 1984. His last military assignment, which ended in 1982, was as commanding officer of the Wilmington [CG Reserve] Unit. He received the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award in May 2014. Congressman Coble particpates in an annual St. Patrick's Day parade, one of hundreds of parades during his three decades of public service. Issue 1 • 2017 � RESERVIST 43