Louis Stokes
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Louis Stokes (born February 23, 1925) is a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Stokes served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946. After attending Western Reserve University and Cleveland Marshall Law School, Stokes began practicing law in Cleveland in 1953. He was elected to the House in 1968, representing the 21st District on Cleveland's East Side. He shifted to the newly created 11th District, covering much of the same area following a 1992 redistricting. Stokes served 15 terms in total, retiring in 1999.
Stokes tenure in the House of Representatives consisted of service on the House Appropriations Committee where he was influential in bringing revenue to Cleveland. He was particularly interested in veterans issues and secured funds for health care facilities for veterans in Cleveland. In the 1970s, Stokes served as Chairman of the House Assassinations Committee investigating the murders of President John F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
Stokes's brother, Carl B. Stokes, was mayor of Cleveland, a news broadcaster, and a U.S. ambassador. His daughter, Angela Stokes, serves as a Cleveland Municipal Court judge. He practices law in Cleveland, Ohio and Washington, D.C.