Donald (Don) Rogers Papers, 1979-1996

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Summary

Creators:
Rogers, Donald
Abstract:
Don Rogers, a Republican, was first elected in November 1978 to represent California's 33rd Assembly District. The Don Rogers Papers consist of 10 cubic feet of textual records that cover the years 1979-1996.
Extent:
10 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The Don Rogers Papers consist of 10 cubic feet of textual records that cover the years 1979-1996. The records are organized into one record series: Bill Files, 1979-1996. The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by Don Rogers discuss taxes, geology, and Kern and Tulare Counties. Rogers was also involved in writing legislation that affected the United States on a national level.

Biographical / historical:

Don Rogers, a Republican, was first elected in November 1978 to represent the 33rd Assembly District which covered most of Kern County, including the cities of Bakersfield, Taft, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Buttonwillow, Arvin, and Lamont, and a smaller portion of southern Tulare County, including the cities of Tulare, Pixley, Terra Bella, and Lindsay.

In November 1986, Rogers was elected to represent the 16th Senatorial District in the southern San Joaquin Valley, which included all of Kern and Kings Counties, a part of northern Los Angeles County, and part of San Bernardino County. At the end of 1992, Rogers ran for a new seat in the 17th Senatorial District, which included Inyo County, northern and eastern San Bernardino County, eastern Kern County, and northern Los Angeles County. He won and represented this district until the end of his term in 1996.

Donald A. Rogers was born on April 28, 1928, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and graduated with a degree in Geology from Louisiana State University in 1951. While working for an oil company, he lived in Louisiana and Mississippi before establishing residence in Bakersfield in 1963. Rogers was a registered geologist in the State of California. He was also a member of the Kern County Farm Bureau, Future Farmers of America, National Federation of Independent Business, Gun Owners of California, Independent Petroleum Association, and the San Joaquin Geological Society. He holds a commercial pilot's license, which he used to commute to the State Capitol in his own single-engine airplane. He is also a U.S. Marine Corp veteran.

A former court reporter, Don's wife, Marilyn, was a member of the National Shorthand Reporters and the Certified Shorthand Reporters of California. Their daughter, Mallorie, also became a court reporter. Their two sons were both accomplished athletes. Grayson Rogers played football for Stanford, 1978-1979, before playing for the University of the Pacific Tigers, 1980-1981. In 1982, Grayson also played on the UOP baseball team. Douglas Rogers also began his football career playing for Stanford, 1978-1981, before playing for the Atlanta Falcons, 1982-1983, New England Patriots, 1983-1984, and San Francisco 49ers, 1986.

Roger's first interest in politics came as a result of receiving a property tax bill as a geological consultant in a small business. His taxes increased 45 percent in one year. This event led him to run for Bakersfield City Council in 1973. He won election and was re-elected in 1977, serving until his election to the Assembly in 1978.

During his term in the California Legislature, Rogers served on the following committees according to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks) and the California Blue Book:

California State Assembly, 1979-1986

Standing Committees

Economic Development and New Technologies, 1983-1984

Economic Development and Planning, 1981-1982

Chair, 1981-1982

Education, 1979-1980

Energy and Natural Resources, 1981-1982

Local Government, 1985-1986

Natural Resources, 1983-1986

Chair, 1985-1986

Public Safety, 1985-1986

Resources, Land Use, and Energy, 1979-1980

Rules, 1983-1984

Transportation, 1983-1984

Water, Parks, and Wildlife, 1979-1982

Select Committees

Aviation, 1983-1984

Economic Problems in Timer and Related Industries, 1979-1982

Energy Alternatives in Agriculture, 1981-1982

Genetic Diseases, 1979-1984

Local Implementation of Tax and Spending Initiatives, 1979-1980

Regulatory Oversight, 1979-1982

Utility Performance, Rates, and Regulations, 1983-1984

Subcommittees

Energy, 1979-1982

Postsecondary Education, 1979-1980

Public Lands, 1979-1980

Joint Committees

Rules, 1983-1984

State's Economy, 1981-1986

Commissions

Economic Development, 1981-1982

Seismic Safety, 1981-1982

California State Senate, 1987-1996

Standing Committees

Agriculture and Water Resources, 1987-1996

Bonded Indebtedness and Methods of Financing, 1987-1990

Vice Chair, 1987-1988

Budget and Fiscal Review, 1991-1992

Housing and Urban Affairs, 1987-1988

Insurance, 1993-1994

Insurance, Claims, and Corporations, 1991-1992

Natural Resources and Wildlife, 1987-1996

Public Employment and Retirement, 1987-1988, 1993-1996

Vice Chair, 1995-1996

Veteran's Affairs, 1989-1996

Chair, 1989-1994

Select Committees

Fairs and Rural Issues, 1987-1992

Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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