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Louis B. Stokes

Louis Stokes (born February 23, 1925) is a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives.

Born in Cleveland, Stokes and his brother Carl B. Stokes, lived in one of the first federally funded housing projects the Outhwaite Homes. Stokes served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946. After attending Western Reserve University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Stokes began practicing law in Cleveland in 1953. Stokes argued the seminal "stop and frisk" Terry v. Ohio case in front of the United States Supreme Court in 1968. 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's 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 Select Committee on Assassinations, charged with investigating the murders of President John F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.. Stokes also served on the House committee that investigated the Iran-Contra Affair.

Stokes's brother, Carl B. Stokes, was the first African American mayor of a large American city. His daughter, Angela Stokes, serves as a Cleveland Municipal Court judge while another, Lori Stokes, is a journalist with WABC-TV New York. His son, Chuck Stokes, is also a journalist with WXYZ-TV in Detroit. Funk and soul musician Rick James was a cousin. Stokes practices law in Cleveland, Ohio and Washington, D.C. Many buildings throughout the country have been named in Stokes honor including: Howard University's medical library, the Cleveland Public Library's main building expansion, GCRTA's Windermere station Louis Stokes Station at Windermere, and the greater Cleveland area Veteran's hospital was renamed the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

• Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 21st District
• Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 11th District
• List of United States Representatives from Ohio
• Western Reserve Historical Society's website about the lives of Louis and Carl Stokes

Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus
Diggs • Stokes • Rangel • Burke • Mitchell • Collins • Fauntroy • Dixon • Leland • Dymally • Dellums • Towns • Mfume • Payne • Waters • Clyburn • Johnson • Cummings • Watt • Kilpatrick