Billy Tauzin III
Encyclopedia
Wilbert Joseph "Billy" Tauzin III was born December 1, 1973 in Thibodaux, Louisiana
, the son of Congressman Billy Tauzin
and Gayle Clement Tauzin, currently married to Ikram S. Tauzin. After graduating from Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, VA, as a National Honor Society Student and 3 sport lettermen (football, wrestling and lacrosse), Tauzin accepted an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy
in New London, Connecticut.
After resigning from the Coast Guard Academy his junior year, Tauzin finished his bachelor's degree in marketing at Louisiana State University
in 1996. He worked for Bell Atlantic Wireless in Virginia and later BellSouth in Metairie, Louisiana.
In a decision that provoked internal dissension in the Louisiana Republican Party, the 30-year-old Tauzin was endorsed by the Republican Party
executive committee as its candidate to fill the open seat caused by his father's 2004 retirement from the United States House of Representatives
due to his battle with intestinal cancer.
Tauzin bested a crowded field in the primary and faced Democratic challenger Charlie Melancon
, a long-time lobbyist for the sugar cane industry, in the runoff. The hotly contested race ended with both candidates receiving 50% but Melancon edging Tauzin by over 500 votes out of over 100,000 votes cast.
Tauzin finished his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Nicholls State University in 2006 and currently works for AT&T (merged with BellSouth) as a district manager in San Antonio, Texas
. Tauzin is also a coach for the Central Catholic Marianist High School
Lacrosse team, which competes in Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL). He also referees for the local games in the area. In 2010 Tauzin was head coach of the French national lacrosse team at the Lacrosse World Games in Manchester.
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux...
, the son of Congressman Billy Tauzin
Billy Tauzin
Wilbert Joseph Tauzin II , usually known as Billy Tauzin, American lobbyist and politician of Cajun descent, was President and CEO of PhRMA, a pharmaceutical company lobby group...
and Gayle Clement Tauzin, currently married to Ikram S. Tauzin. After graduating from Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, VA, as a National Honor Society Student and 3 sport lettermen (football, wrestling and lacrosse), Tauzin accepted an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
in New London, Connecticut.
After resigning from the Coast Guard Academy his junior year, Tauzin finished his bachelor's degree in marketing at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 1996. He worked for Bell Atlantic Wireless in Virginia and later BellSouth in Metairie, Louisiana.
In a decision that provoked internal dissension in the Louisiana Republican Party, the 30-year-old Tauzin was endorsed by the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
executive committee as its candidate to fill the open seat caused by his father's 2004 retirement from the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
due to his battle with intestinal cancer.
Tauzin bested a crowded field in the primary and faced Democratic challenger Charlie Melancon
Charlie Melancon
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Melancon was the U.S. Representative for , serving from 2005 to 2011, and the unsuccessful 2010 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican David Vitter.-Early life, education and career:...
, a long-time lobbyist for the sugar cane industry, in the runoff. The hotly contested race ended with both candidates receiving 50% but Melancon edging Tauzin by over 500 votes out of over 100,000 votes cast.
Tauzin finished his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Nicholls State University in 2006 and currently works for AT&T (merged with BellSouth) as a district manager in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Tauzin is also a coach for the Central Catholic Marianist High School
Central Catholic Marianist High School
Central Catholic High School, is a Catholic, all-male, non-boarding college preparatory school located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.-History:...
Lacrosse team, which competes in Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL). He also referees for the local games in the area. In 2010 Tauzin was head coach of the French national lacrosse team at the Lacrosse World Games in Manchester.