Grinnell may be known for the left-leaning tendencies of its students and alumni, but this alumnus, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is proof that the college has helped develop sharp political thinkers from both sides of the spectrum.

At Grinnell, this alumnus was active in a range of student government activities; he was also a member of the football team. After earning a degree in history with honors at Grinnell, he went on to earn a master's degree in British history from Yale, spent time in London as a Fulbright Scholar and lecturer for the Grinnell-in-London program, and earned a Ph.D. in British history from the University of Oklahoma.

Following his mother's footsteps into politics-she had been a state representative and senator-this alumnus served in the Oklahoma State Senate for three years while heading up a political consulting firm, which he ran for more than a decade. In 1991, he took a position in Washington as executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

He returned to Oklahoma to become the Secretary of State from 1995 to 1999, where he played a significant role in securing funding to assist in the rebuilding of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in the wake of the Oklahoma City Bombing. In 1999, he went back to Washington to serve as chief of staff for the Republican National Committee.

In 2002, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which he retained in two subsequent election cycles. He has served as Deputy Republican Whip since 2003. In 2004, he was inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame, and he was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the National Congress of American Indians.

For his dedicated work as a public servant, Grinnell is pleased to recognize Thomas J. Cole '71.