Republican who represented Virginia's 10th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 2015. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving congressman in the state's history.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and overcame a severe stutter as a child. He received a Law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and became a lawyer for the United States military.
During his tenure as a congressman, he was given a rating of A- by the National Rifle Association and 0% by the American Civil Liberties Union.
He married Carolyn Stover and had children named Brenda, Frank, Rebecca, Anne and Virginia.
He consistently voted in line with the President's positions during the administration of George W. Bush.