Byron G. Rogers
Rogers, c. 1953
Colorado Attorney General
In office
1936–1940
GovernorEdwin C. Johnson
Ray Herbert Talbot
Teller Ammons
Ralph L. Carr
Preceded byPaul P. Prosser
Succeeded byGail L. Ireland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1971
Preceded byJohn A. Carroll
Succeeded byMike McKevitt
Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
1933–1933
Preceded byDelmar E. Hunter
Succeeded byWarren H. Twining
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
1932–1935
Personal details
Born
Byron Giles Roberts

(1900-08-01)August 1, 1900
Greenville, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 31, 1983(1983-12-31) (aged 83)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Resting placeMount Lindo Cemetery near Tiny Town, Colorado
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Helen Kepler
​
(m. 1933)​
Children2
Parents
  • Peter Rogers (father)
  • Minnie May (mother)
Alma materSturm College of Law, University of Denver
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician

Byron Giles Rogers (August 1, 1900 – December 31, 1983) was an American lawyer, politician, and World War I veteran from Colorado. From 1951 to 1971, he served ten consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early life

Rogers was the son of Peter and Minnie May Rogers.[1] Born in Greenville, Texas, he moved with his parents to Oklahoma in April 1902. He attended the public schools of Checotah, Oklahoma.

World War I

During the First World War, he served as a private in the Infantry, United States Army.

Education

He attended the University of Arkansas in 1918, the University of Oklahoma from 1919 to 1922, and the University of Colorado in 1923 and 1924. He earned his LL.B. at Sturm College of Law, University of Denver, 1925, and commenced the practice of law in Las Animas, Colorado.

Family

He married his secretary, Helen Kepler, in 1933, and they had two children, Shirley Ann and Byron Jr.[2][3][4]

Rogers served as city attorney of Las Animas from 1929 to 1933. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1932 to 1935, serving as speaker in 1933. He served as county attorney of Bent County, Colorado, in 1933, and was later on the legal staff of Agricultural Adjustment Administration and National Recovery Administration, Washington, D.C., in 1933 and 1934. He served as assistant United States Attorney for Colorado 1934–1936, and Attorney General of Colorado 1936–1941. He was a public member of the War Labor Board from 1942 to 1945.

Congressional career

Rogers was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-second and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1971). In 1970, due to his support of the Vietnam War, he was challenged in the primary by attorney Craig Barnes. Barnes, a tall, well-groomed, progressive 42-year old attorney, stood in marked contrast to 70-year old Rogers. Barnes ran an aggressive campaign, attacking Rogers on many issues, including the war, and actively recruited new, young voters. In the primary, Barnes would defeat Rogers by a mere 30 votes (27,218 to 27,188). Rogers alleged foul that Barnes' staff had registered University of Denver students who were non-residents from other states.

Had Barnes won, Rogers planned to challenge the general election in the House, however, instead many of Rogers' supporters, especially in Northwest Denver, bolted to the Republican candidate, Denver County District Attorney Mike McKevitt, who would defeat Barnes by more than 10,000 votes.[5]

He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[6]

Death and legacy

Rogers was a resident of Denver, Colorado until his death there December 31, 1983. He was interred in Mount Lindo Cemetery near Tiny Town, Colorado.

The Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and United States Courthouse was named in his honor in 1984.

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Byron Rogers' Mother Dies Mon". Greeley Daily Tribune. 1959-12-01. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  2. ↑ "Speaker Rogers Married". Fort Collins Coloradoan. 1933-07-21. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  3. ↑ "Barnes Seeks Dismissal Of Rogers' Court Suit". Greeley Daily Tribune. 1970-09-15. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  4. ↑ 1984 Congressional Record, Vol. 130, Page 737
  5. ↑ Byron Rogers and the Denver Congressional race of 1970
  6. ↑ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. -- House Vote #42 -- Jun 18, 1957". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2022-07-06.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

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