The House of Representatives is ‘The People’s House’ and this is truly reflected in the diverse job occupations and backgrounds by Members. In particular, there have been many Members with ‘celebrity-like’ backgrounds including TV and movie stars, athletes and frontiersman. Below is a brief listing with some interesting background information.

David “Davy” Crockett, a member of the Jacksonian party and later the anti-Jacksonian party, represented Tennessee in the 20th, 21st, and 23rd Congresses from 1827-1834, serving on the Expenditures in the Department of War Committee and the Accounts Committee. After leaving Congress, he journeyed to the uncharted lands of Texas, where he gained a reputation as a bold frontiersman and pioneer, earning the title “King of the Wild Frontier.” His death while fighting in the Texas Revolution and defending the Alamo became legendary, as countless films now remember him as a fearless, coonskin cap-wearing patriot. The Crockett image, as produced by Disney, became a fad in the 1950s, as Americans scrambled to purchase everything from Davy Crockett lunch boxes to records of “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.”

William Barbour, a Republican, represented New Jersey in the Senate from 1931-1944 during the 72nd to 78th Congresses, serving on the Inter-Oceanic Canals, Military Affairs, Post Office and Post Roads, Public Buildings and Grounds, Manufacturers, Commerce, Naval Affairs, and Rules Committees. Prior to his election to Congress, Barbour became the U.S. amateur heavyweight boxing champion in 1910, and the Canadian amateur heavyweight boxing champion the following year.

J. William Fulbright, a Democrat, represented Arkansas in the House during the 78th Congress and the Senate during the 79th through the 93rd Congress, from 1943 to 1973. In the House, he served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and in the Senate he served on the Banking and Currency, Education and Labor, Immigration, Public Buildings and Grounds Committees, where he helped establish the Fulbright Fellowship foreign exchange program. Prior to his election to Congress, he was a star player on the University of Arkansas football team.

Gerald Ford, a Republican, represented Michigan in the House during the 81st through the 93rd Congress, from 1949 to 1974, and left when Nixon appointed him as his Vice President. He served on the Public Works, Appropriations, and Astronautics and Space Exploration Committee, and the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Prior to his election to Congress, Ford was a star football player for the University of Michigan, leading his team to two national titles and two undefeated seasons. He later turned down contract offers from the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers in the NFL to pursue a coaching opportunity at Yale University.

Bob Mathias, a Republican, represented California in the House during the 90th through the 93rd Congress, from 1967-1974, serving on the Agriculture and Foreign Affairs Committees. Prior to his election to Congress, Mathias won gold medals in the decathlon in the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games. In 1952, he led the Stanford University football team to the Rose Bowl. He also costarred on the 1959-1960 television series The Troubleshooters and portrayed himself in the 1954 biopic The Bob Mathias Story.

Wilmer Mizell, a Republican, represented North Carolina in the House during the 91st through the 93rd Congress, from 1969-1974, serving on the Agriculture and Public Works Committees. Prior to his election to Congress, Mizell pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the New York Mets, earning the nickname “Vinegar Bend Mizell.”

Jack Kemp, a Republican, represented New York in the House during the 92nd through the 100th Congress, from 1971 to 1988, serving on the Education and Labor, Appropriations, and Budget Committees, as well as the Select/Special Committees on Small Business and Children, Youth, and Families. Prior to his election to Congress, Kemp played football professionally for thirteen years in the National Football League (NFL), the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the American Football League (AFL) as quarterback. He was the captain for the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills and won the AFL Most Valuable Player award after his Bills won the 1965 championship (the first Superbowl was not played until 1967).

John Glenn, a Democrat, represented Ohio in the Senate during the 93rd to the 105th Congress, from 1973 to 1998, serving on the Government Operations, Interior and Insular Affairs, District of Columbia, Foreign Relations, and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Select/Special Committees on Official Conduct, Aging, and Intelligence. Prior to his election to Congress, Glenn worked as an astronaut for NASA, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth and the third in space.

Wendell Anderson, a Democrat, represented Minnesota in the Senate during the 95th Congress from 1975-1978, serving on the Commerce, Agriculture and Forestry, Budget, Armed Services, Environment and Public Works, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees. Prior to his election to Congress, Anderson won a silver medal in the 1956 Olympics for the U.S. hockey team.

Al Gore, a Democrat, represented Tennessee in the House during the 95th through the 98th Congress, and the Senate during the 99th through the 102nd Congress, from 1977 to 1992, leaving upon his election as Bill Clinton’s Vice President. In the House, he served on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce and Science and Technology Committees, as well as the Select/Special Committee on Intelligence. In the Senate, he served on the Commerce, Science and Transportation, Governmental Affairs, Rules and Administration, and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Select/Special Committee on the Judge Harry E. Claiborne Impeachment and the Joint Committees of Printing and Economic. Following his two terms as Vice President, Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his environmental efforts, and the Academy Award for his documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

Harrison Schmitt, a Republican, represented New Mexico in the Senate during the 95th to the 97th Congress, from 1977 to 1982, serving on the Commerce, Science and Transportation, Finance, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Appropriations, and Governmental Affairs Committees. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked as an astronaut for NASA and walked on the moon.

Bill Bradley, a Democrat, represented New Jersey in the Senate during the 96th to the 104th Congress, from 1979-1996, serving on the Energy and Natural Resources and Finance Committees, as well as the Select/Special Committees of Aging and Intelligence. Prior to his election to Congress, Bradley became a three-time All-American basketball player while at Princeton University, became the NCAA Division I Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and the 1965 National Player of the Year. He also served as captain of the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 1964, which won the gold medal. He played for Olimpia Milano, a professional Italian team, helping the team win the prestigious European Champions Cup. He played in the NBA for the New York Knicks, helped his team win the NBA championship, played in the All Star Game, and was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame.

Jim Bunning, a Republican, has represented New York from the 100th Congress to the present, beginning in 1987. He has served on the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee; the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee; the Ways and Means Committee; and the Standards of Official Conduct Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, Bunning played baseball professionally as a pitcher, throwing two no-hitters and one perfect game. He also played in seven All Star games and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fred Grandy, a Republican, represented Iowa during the 100th to the 103rd Congress from 1987 to 1994, serving on the Agriculture, Education and labor, Standards of Official Conduct, and Ways and Means Committees, as well as the Select/Special Committee on Children, Youth and Families. Prior to his election to Congress, Grandy acted on the sitcom Maude and later starred for nine seasons on the television series The Love Boat.

Ben Jones, a Democrat, represented Georgia in the 101st and 102nd Congresses, from 1989 to 1992, serving on the Public Works and Transportation and Veterans Affairs Committees. Prior to his election to Congress, Jones acted on the sitcom The Dukes of Hazard.

Tom McMillen, a Democrat, represented Maryland in the 100th to the 102nd Congress, from 1987 to 1992, serving on the Baking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee; the Science, Space and Technology Committee; and the Energy and Commerce Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, McMillen played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins, played on the U.S. Olympic basketball team, and later played in the NBA. He currently holds the record as the tallest member of Congress ever at 6 feet 11 inches.

Steve Largent, a Republican, represented Oklahoma during the 103rd to the 107th Congress, from 1993 to 2002. Prior to his election to Congress, Largent played football at the University of Tulsa, where he became an All-American. He played for the Seattle Seahawks for thirteen seasons, played in the Pro Bowl seven times, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hal of Fame in 1995.

Sonny Bono, a Republican, represented California in the 104th and 105th Congresses, from 1995-1998. Prior to his election to Congress, Bono gained fame as a hit musician and star of his own variety show with his wife, The Sonny and Cher Show. He also had roles on Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, among other minor roles in various films and television shows.

Heath Shuler, a Democrat, has represented North Carolina in the 110th and the present Congress. Prior to his election to Congress, Shuler was voted the North Carolina High School Player of the Year, played for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, and later played in the NFL. Shuler was Quarterback for the Washington Redskins, the New Orleans Saints and the Oakland Raiders.