Preceded by John S. Wold Political party Democratic Education University of Wyoming Role Politician | Name Teno Roncalio Succeeded by Dick Cheney Alma mater University of Wyoming Party Democratic Party | |
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Born March 23, 1916
Rock Springs, Wyoming ( 1916-03-23 ) Died March 30, 2003, Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States Residence Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States | ||
Preceded by William Henry Harrison Succeeded by William Henry Harrison | ||
Teno Roncalio (March 23, 1916 – March 30, 2003) was a Democratic politician from Wyoming who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967, and again from 1971 until 1978.
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Early life and education
Roncalio was born to an Italian immigrant family in Rock Springs, Wyoming. His father Frank Roncalio was a coal miner who made extra money as a junk salesman. His mother Ernesta was a homemaker. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in the Normandy invasion.
In 1947, Roncalio graduated from the University of Wyoming. He served as the prosecuting attorney for Laramie County from 1950 to 1956. In 1957, he was elected as chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party. Roncalio also was chosen as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. As Chairman of the Wyoming delegation to the 1960 Convention, he cast the deciding votes that won John F. Kennedy the nomination for President.
First term in Congress
In 1964, he narrowly defeated Republican Rep. William Henry Harrison to win Wyoming's at-large congressional seat. Roncalio gave up the seat two years later to become the Democratic nominee for United States Senate. He was edged out in that race by Republican Governor Clifford P. Hansen.
Return to Congress
In 1970, when Wyoming's House seat became open again, Roncalio ran again for his old job, winning by just 608 votes. He was re-elected narrowly in 1972, but by a wider margin in 1974, when he defeated Thomas F. Stroock, and again in 1976.
He casually announced his plans to leave politics at a 1977 football game, and did not run for re-election in 1978. He was succeeded by Republican Dick Cheney.
Later life and death
Roncalio then returned to Wyoming, where he served as Special Master in Wyoming's Big Horn adjudication of Indian Water Rights until 1982.
Roncalio died of congestive heart failure in 2003, and is interred in Cheyenne. The post office in Rock Springs, Wyoming, is named in his honor. To date, he is the last Democrat to have represented Wyoming in Congress.