Steve Largent, a former Oklahoma congressman and NFL Hall of Fame member, will replace Tom Wheeler as president and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) effective in November.
Largent, a Republican, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2001. He was the vice-chairman of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee and served on the Telecommunications Subcommittee, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and the Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.
Largent, 48, resigned from Congress at the end of 2001 for an unsuccessful run as governor of Oklahoma. In May, he joined the Wheelchair Foundation as Mid-West Chapter Executive Director. For the past several years, Largent also worked as a motivational speaker and a marketing/advertising consultant.
“As a result of his past Commerce Committee experience, he has an appreciation for the complexity of telecommunications and the unique competitive nature of wireless,” said Scott Ford, CEO of ALLTELL and chairman of the CTIA. “Steve has also demonstrated the ability to lead and build consensus in an environment that is rife with differing opinions. Steve clearly possesses the skills, energy and enthusiasm necessary to be the wireless industry’s chief advocate.”
Largent was an All-American receiver at the University of Tulsa, where he twice led the nation in touchdown catches. Over his 14-year NFL career, he is best known for his record-setting pass catching performances for the Seattle Seahawks. In 1988, he was elected NFL Man of the Year, and in 1995 was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
