Congressman Larry Kissell was elected November 4, 2008. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee where he serves on the Readiness and Land and Air subcommittees.  He also serves on the House Agriculture Committee where he is a member of the subcommittees on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research; General Farms Commodities and Risk Management, and Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture.

Born January 31, 1951, Larry Kissell is the son of Virene, a retired mathematics teacher, and the late Richard Kissell, a decorated WWII veteran who served as local Postmaster for the town of Biscoe, NC for many years.

Larry grew up in Biscoe attending both Biscoe Elementary School and East Montgomery High School, where, after a 27 year career in the local textile industry, he taught for the 7 years prior to entering Congress.

Larry attended Wake Forest University graduating in 1973 with a degree in Economics. He then returned to the area, first working in production management at Union Carbide, then joining Russell Hosiery in Star, North Carolina. Larry stayed with the plant for 27 years first through its acquisition by Fruit of the Loom, then acquisition by the Renfro Corporation which ultimately closed in 2003. During his 27 years of textile employment Larry worked in sales, service, administration, planning/scheduling, M.I.S., customer service, order processing and production management.

By 2001 the effects of free trade on the domestic textile industry were becoming evident. Textile plants were shutting down operations all over the area and many production jobs were being sent overseas. Foresight sent Larry in search of a career change. Education had been a huge part of his life, and Larry felt the need to make a difference through teaching. His mother Virene had been a teacher, and his wife Tina also worked in the local schools. In raising his own family, Larry realized that the next generation simply wouldn't have the same opportunities waiting for them upon graduation that his generation enjoyed. Something had to be done.

Once Larry had decided on the next challenge, he was teaching Social Studies in front of a room full of students the very next day after leaving textiles. His former employer ultimately did close laying off nearly 800 workers in the coming years.

As a part of the Civics curriculum, Larry taught his students about the system of government in the United States. The more he taught about our founding principles and Constitution to young people, the more he realized how far off course our country had strayed from the Founders' intentions.

When the Founders developed the concept of the United States Congress it was meant to be a branch of government that would be filled by everyday people called to serve, not lifelong politicians. It was meant to be what it was called: The U.S. House of Representatives.

Larry decided it was time for regular working Americans to take back their House. He thus began the next great journey, from right in the heart of the community so important to him. Today, Larry is honored to serve as your Representative to the U.S. House.

Larry is married to Tina Kissell and they have two daughters, Jenny and Aspen. He’s a life member of Biscoe First Baptist church, and an avid cyclist.