Neil Abercrombie

Neil Abercrombie ('55) is a United States Congressman from the state of Hawaii. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and is now in his fifth term of office. He is a member of the National Security Committee where he is ranking Democrat on the Facilities and Installations Subcommittee.

     He is also a member of the Resources Committee and serves as the Democratic Whip-At-Large. After graduating from South HS where he played left guard on the school's championship football team, Congressman Abercrombie received his undergraduate degree from Union College in Schenectady, NY. Hawaii had just become the newest state in August of 1959 and Mr. Abercrombie arrived in September to attend the University of Hawaii, earning a master's degree in Sociology and a doctorate degree in American Studies.

     He has worked as a waiter, custodian, probation officer, graduate teaching assistant, college lecturer, professor, construction apprentice program director, and special assistant to the State Superintendent of Education. Abercrombie began his political career in the Hawaii State House of Representatives in 1974. After two terms in the State House, he was elected to the State Senate where he served for eight years. He has received numerous awards on the national, state and local level throughout his career including the Toastmasters International Award, National Epilepsy Foundation Advocacy Award, and the SERTOMA Freedom Award.