Timeline

Dive into Tony Coelho's remarkable journey and advocacy for disability rights with the comprehensive timeline below. Discover key milestones, legislative triumphs, and transformative moments that have defined his impactful career and life. From groundbreaking initiatives to personal stories, explore the evolution of accessibility and inclusivity in America through the lens of one of its most influential leaders.

June 15, 1942

Tony was born Anthony Lee Coelho to Otto and Alice Coelho, both of Portuguese descent, in rural Los Baños, California, a city located in the San Joaquin Valley in central California.

The 1940’s and 1950’s

Coelho was active as a boy and teenager. He worked fulltime on his family’s dairy farm -milking cows twice a day - and also enjoyed horseback riding and water activities.

1960

Coelho attended Loyola University of Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) and went on to graduate with honors with a bachelor of arts in 1964. Among other leadership roles he was elected Student Body President during his senior year.

1963

After the Kennedy assassination, Coelho decided to become a Catholic priest. As part of the routine medical exam, prior to entering the seminary, his doctor informed him that he had epilepsy. At the time Canon Law prevented anyone with epilepsy (that was possessed by the devil) from becoming a priest. As a result of the diagnosis, he struggled to get meaningful employment.

1964

While searching for what to do next, a priest and mentor from Loyola introduced Coelho to comedian Bob Hope. Coelho went to live with Hope for one year. They became friends and it was Hope who first encouraged him to pursue a career in politics. (Read more here in an excerpt from the book HOPE about Bob Hope's life.)

1965

Coelho worked as a staff member for Congressman Bernie Sisk from 1965 until 1978, including eight years as his Chief of Staff, and lead the Congressman’s most critical initiatives, such as, the DC subway system, Sports Investigation Committee, Cotton Subcommittee, Parking Committee, adding electronic vote counts to the House wall and House floor, and making it possible for CSPAN to broadcast House proceedings. These assignments were a helpful foundation to Coelho when he became a Member of Congress. When Sisk retired, Coelho ran for his seat.

1978

With 60% of the vote, Coelho was elected to the 96th Congress. He was later elected to the five succeeding Congresses where he served until his resignation on June 15, 1989. During his tenure he served on the Agriculture, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and Administration Committees and he specialized in the rights of disabled people. During each of his campaigns, he rode in a horse and buggy to each of the 17 cities in the district.

1979

Coelho began serving on the Board for the Epilepsy Foundation and served for several years, including 2 years as Chairman of the Board. Coelho received the Epilepsy Foundation’s 2015 Hero of Epilepsy Award.

1980

Leading up to his sophomore term, Coelho was named chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a Hill committee that supports Democratic Party candidates. Coelho went on to lead the Committee to unprecedented success, including gaining Democrats 26 seats in 1982 and losing only one seat in 1984 despite President Ronald Reagan's landslide victory. In this image Tony is with House Majority Leader Jim Wright.

New House Democratic leadership -- '86 -- Whip Coelho, Speaker Wright & Leader Foley

1986

Coelho was the first elected House Majority Whip in history. In this role, Coelho oversaw a series of Democratic victories in the House on measures ranging from the budget to cutting off funds for the war in Central America. In this image Tony is joined by Speaker Jim Wright and House Majority Leader Tom Foley.

1987

Coelho met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican to advocate for changing Canon Law prohibiting entry into the priesthood by anyone with epilepsy.

1988

As part of his leadership as the primary sponsor for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Coelho testified before his colleagues during a Joint Congressional hearing lead by Senate Health Committee Chairman, Senator Ted Kennedy.

1989

In 1989, Coelho resigned from the House after six terms in the wake of press reports that he had received a loan from a savings and loan executive to purchase junk bonds. After reviewing the allegations, neither the House of Representatives nor the Department of Justice chose to pursue action.

1989

Coelho joined Wertheim Schroder and Company, an investment firm located in New York as a managing director. Shortly after joining the company, Coelho served as president and CEO of the Asset Management Division until 1995. That effort grew from $400 million to $4 billion in managed investments under his leadership.

July 26, 1990

Coelho’s signature legislative achievement, The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.

1994

President Bill Clinton appointed Coelho to serve as chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The President also appointed him as Vice Chair of the National Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities. He held these positions until 2001. He then convinced the President to create a cabinet position in the Labor Department that would fulfill the Committee's objective in perpetuity.

1995

Speaker Foley appointed Coelho to serve on the Aspin–Brown Commission. More formally known as the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of the US Intelligence, the intent of the Commission was to assess the status of the changing intelligence community following the Cold War.

1995

Coelho founded Education, Training, and Communication, a company that specialized in training teachers in new technology designed to assist classroom instruction. He served as its chairman and CEO until 1997 when the company was sold.

1997

Coelho became part owner, and chairman of the board, of Garden State Park and Monmouth Park, thoroughbred and harness race tracks in New Jersey.

1997

With his best friend, Dewey Belli, Coelho began a farming partnership that had a wine grape vineyard and an almond orchard.

1998

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President Bill Clinton appointed Coelho to serve as the United States Commissioner General at the 1998 World Expo in Portugal. In this picture, Tony is joined by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and friends. At one event blues legend B.B. King sang happy birthday to Coelho during his concert. (Listen above.)

1998

President Bill Clinton appointed Coelho to serve as co-chair to the U.S. Census Monitoring Board, which observes and monitors all aspects of the preparation of the upcoming 2000 Census where he also monitored the count of people with disabilities.

1999

Vice President Al Gore named Coelho general chairman of the Gore presidential campaign.

2005

Coelho was a member of the Board for the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) for several years. In 2005 he became its Chair for 2 years and received AAPD's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

2008

Coelho co-chaired the Obama campaign’s Disability Policy Committee. During the Obama Administration, Coelho lead an effort that placed people with disabilities into jobs with Federal contractors and sub-contractors.

2009

Coelho founded the Partnership to Improve Patient Care, a coalition of patients, people with disabilities and other stakeholders advocating to advance a health system centered on the needs of patients and people with disabilities.

2016

Coelho was Chair of Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Disability Policy Team and the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

2018

Coelho founded The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy & Innovation (TCC) at his alma mater Loyola Marymount University (LMU). The Center’s mission is to continue to expand Coelho’s commitment to the civil rights of individuals with a disability and create a pipeline of people with disabilities who enter the legal profession. Tony is pictured with Michael Waterstone, dean of Loyola Law School, Timothy Snyder, President of LMU, and Katherine Perez, founding Director of The Coelho Center. Find more about TCC at their website.

2020

Coelho co-chaired the Disability Policy Committee, an independent group of people with disabilities developing policy ideas for the Biden/Harris Presidential campaign. He also chaired the 46 Disability Job Opportunity Project seeking to ensure that people with disabilities receive equal consideration for presidential appointments for which they are qualified.

2024

For the past three years Coelho has worked with leaders from blind, sight, and physically impaired communities to make the internet accessible at the federal, state and local levels.

2024

Loyola Marymount University built out office space for The Coelho Center on campus at University Hall. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other VIPs participated in a dedication and ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the office. The opening also launched a collaboration between The Coelho Center, the University and the City of Los Angeles with respect to the upcoming Paralympic Games in 2028.