 Tonkovich then served in the United States Army Infantry in Vietnam.Tonkovich was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1972 and 1974 and was then elected to the West Virginia Senate from the 2nd Senatorial District in 1979, the first senator from Marshall County elected to the office and was named one of the "Outstanding Young Men of America" in 1974, 1976 and 1977.Tonkovich was appointed Senate Majority Whip in 1981 and Senate Majority Leader in 1983.