Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Tyrus (Ty) Raymond Cobb, Jr. was born and raised in Oklahoma, son of Ty, Sr. (mechanic, farmer, car salesman, fireman & OK state trooper) and Mary E. Cobb.  He was his Class Valedictorian and lettered in football.  His hard work in high school paid off with an appointment to West Point.

At West Point he was above average academically and excelled in running, boxing and wrestling.  Upon graduation (BS engineering degree) in 1962, he chose Infantry branch of service for his 21 year military career.  Honing his Infantry skills, Cobb became an Army Ranger and a paratrooper.  He parachuted into Iran (then our ally) in 1964 as a company commander in the 101st Airborne Division for military maneuvers.  As Senior Advisor to a Vietnamese Parachute Infantry Battalion then Captain Cobb was awarded the Purple Heart and 3 Bronze Stars for Valor in combat.

After gaining an MA degree, Cobb served as Associate Professor of Earth Sciences and Geography at West Point.  He served as battalion operations officer twice in Korea.  Lieutenant Colonel Cobb ended his career in a weapons R&D assignment assuring weapons were "soldier friendly;" there he gained an MBA via night school.

Ty and wife Beverly opened a retail sporting goods business they ran for 10 years.  The Army asked Cobb to return to the R&D command in which he had served; he worked there for 20 years as an R&D engineer.

Mr. Cobb moved to North Carolina almost 4 years ago to be near two of his five grandsons.  He and Beverly now reside in Rowan County where he has coached young athletes in baseball and basketball, rounding out 36 years of such coaching.  He is a volunteer lifeguard at his YMCA pool and Salisbury's municipal pool.  Cobb is a Life member of Kiwanis and AMVETS.

Having been a government servant since age 18, I was not permitted to participate in politics.  Upon retirement, I guess I have had more time to reflect on what is happening in the political scene.  Frankly, I was appalled to find that "not much constructive work was going on."  Indeed, the current rating of the "do nothing" Congress is a lowly 19% (June Gallup Poll).  Though I have taken the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States three times (cadet in 1958; Army officer in 1962; Army civilian in 1985), I decided to take the oath once more as a US House Representative.  Unlike my opponent, I am not a lawyer, millionaire nor career politician; I am thus more "representative" of the good folks of the 12th Congressional district, so I feel I can better "represent" them.

The main issues of my campaign are: 1) re-invigorate the “Do Nothing” Congress; 2) resolve America's fuel/energy crisis with a long-term, comprehensive energy plan (that will see new, environmentally sensitive drilling for America’s oil and massive research into alternative energy sources); 3)welcome immigrants, but no illegals; 4) assure a truly secure America, for without security all other problems pale by comparison.

Please visit my website for a complete list of my issues.  Folks, there is a lot of work to be done and NOW is the time for action.  My approach is to conduct myself as an American, not a Republican, Democrat or Independent, but as an American solving America's many problems.

And I plan to go to Congress "with my sleeves rolled up," because I pledge to go there and WORK!