Take Five: Howard Coble

Q. You started out working in retail in Greensboro, N.C.?
Q. Greensboro, N.C., is home to six colleges, so what caused you to attend Guilford College?
A. I transferred to Guilford from Appalachian State to be near home. I was thinking about studying for the ministry at the time, and I thought a liberal arts college would be a better fit for that.
Q. You spent more than two decades serving in the Coast Guard. How has it enabled you to better understand that niche within the military in the subcommittees you now serve on?
Q. The Triad region of North Carolina is world-famous for its annual furniture market. Have you found any good furniture places in Washington?
Q. You attended the Grammys in 2008. What was your favorite or most memorable part of the show?
A. The late Earl Scruggs. He was confirmed with his Lifetime Achievement Award. They asked me to present him that award since Earl was from Cleveland County in North Carolina. I was very pleased and honored to do that.