Howard P. 'Buck' McKeon (1936-2021) was an American politician and businessman who served as a Republican U.S. Representative for California's 25th congressional district from 1993 to 2015. Born in Los Angeles, California, McKeon grew up in the region and developed an early interest in public service after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1962. Prior to his political career, he worked in real estate, banking, and education-related businesses, including founding the McKeon Construction Company and serving on local school boards in the Santa Clarita Valley. His entry into politics was marked by his election to the California State Assembly in 1980, where he served until 1993, focusing on education and economic development issues.

In Congress, McKeon became a prominent voice on education policy, chairing the House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness and later the full House Committee on Education and the Workforce from 2011 to 2015. He also chaired the House Armed Services Committee from 2011 to 2013, advocating for increased military spending and veterans' affairs. Known for his conservative stance, McKeon supported tax cuts, deregulation, and opposed labor-backed initiatives, earning low scores from organizations like the AFL-CIO for voting against working people's interests in areas like minimum wage increases and union protections. He retired in 2015 and passed away in 2021, remembered for his long service in representing the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita regions.