Thomas W. Libous (April 14, 1953 – May 3, 2016) was an American politician who served as New York State Senator for the 52nd Senate District, representing the counties of Broome, Tioga, Chenango and Delaware. A Republican, Libous was first elected to the State Senate in 1988. He won a total of 14 terms in the Senate, eventually rising to the position of Deputy Majority Leader. An influential Albany dealmaker, Libous was notable for his advocacy for New York's Southern Tier. On July 22, 2015, Libous forfeited his Senate seat when he was found guilty of lying to the FBI. His conviction was vacated following his death. Early life, education, and early career Libous was president of his senior class at Johnson City High School. At a young age, he worked at his family's grocery store in Binghamton. Libous graduated from Broome Community College in 1973 and from the State University of New York at Utica in 1975, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance with honors. He worked on political campaigns for his uncle, Alfred Libous, who served as Mayor of Binghamton. Libous, a Republican, was elected to the Binghamton City Council in 1983 and won re-election in 1987. New York State Senate career After having served on the Binghamton City Council, Libous was first elected to the New York State Senate in 1988. Libous was re-elected 13 times. He succeeded Senator Warren M. Anderson, who had served as Senate Majority Leader. Libous was a powerful presence in Albany, and was known for his advocacy for New York's Southern Tier. He was also known for his ability to work with members of both parties and for his strong working relationship with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In 2008, Libous rose to the position of Deputy Majority Leader. In 2009, he played a major role in a parliamentary coup when Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to take control of the Senate with the help of two dissident Democrats. Also in 2009, he became chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee; in that capacity, he helped the Republicans retake the Senate majority the following year. in 2011, Libous voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during a Senate roll-call vote on the Marriage Equality Act, which narrowly passed 33-29., and also voted against the 2013 gun control law known as the New York SAFE Act. Libous was an outspoken