Teno Roncalio

Teno Roncalio
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wyoming's At-large district
In office 1965–1967
Preceded by	William Henry Harrison
Succeeded by	William Henry Harrison
In office 1971–1978
Preceded by	John S. Wold
Succeeded by	Dick Cheney
Personal details
Born	March 23, 1916(1916-03-23) Rock Springs, Wyoming
Died	March 30, 2003(2003-03-30) (aged 87) Cheyenne, Wyoming
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Rock Springs, Wyoming
Alma mater	University of Wyoming

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.

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 and 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 votes that decided the nomination of John F. Kennedy 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, Wyoming's House seat became open again. Roncalio ran for his old job, winning by just 608 votes. He was reelected narrowly in 1972 and by wider margins in 1974, when he defeated Thomas F. Stroock, and again in 1976.

During his time in Congress, Roncalio pushed to increase Wyoming's share of federal mineral royalties and advocated a balance between environmental concerns and development. He casually announced his plans to leave politics at a 1977 football game, and he did not run for re-election in 1978. He resigned from Congress in December 1978. Republican Dick Cheney assumed the office the next month.

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; he is interred in Cheyenne. The post office in Rock Springs, Wyoming, is named in his honor. As of 2010, he was the last Democrat to have served Wyoming in Congress.

Notes

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William Henry Harrison (R)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wyoming's At-large congressional district 1965 – 1967	Succeeded by William Henry Harrison (R)
Preceded by John S. Wold (R)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wyoming's At-large congressional district 1971 – 1978	Succeeded by Dick Cheney (R)

References

• Congressional Biography
• United States House of Representatives. Office of the Clerk. Election Information

• Wire Reports. "Teno Roncalio, 87; Served Five Terms as Wyoming Congressman." Los Angeles Times. 27 April 2003. p B-18.

• T.R. Reid. "Republican Candidates Thrive in Rich, Uncluttered Wyoming." 29 August 1978. Washington Post. p A2.