Albert S. Rodda
Encyclopedia
Albert S. Rodda, Jr. was a California State Senator
.
Born in Sacramento, California
, Rodda graduated from Sacramento High School
in 1929 before receiving an A.B.
in 1933 and an A.M.
in 1934, both in History
from Stanford University
, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society
. After teaching in Sacramento for several years, Rodda entered the United States Navy Reserve
and was a gunnery officer in World War II
. Leaving the Navy Reserve in 1946, he started teaching at Sacramento City College
. In 1951, Rodda received a Ph.D.
in History
and Economics
from Stanford.
A Democrat
, Rodda won a 1958 special election to the California State Senate
to represent the 19th District
to fill the vacancy from the death of Earl D. Desmond, defeating Desmond's son and two other Democrats. He was re-elected six times but was removed by voters in 1980 and replaced by John Doolittle
.
Shortly after voters removed Rodda from the Senate, Governor
Jerry Brown
appointed Rodda as Executive Secretary of the Commission on State Finance. When Brown left office after losing the 1982 election for U.S. Senate
to Pete Wilson
, Rodda left the Commission and was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Los Rios Community College District
. He left the board in 1992. The Los Rios Community College District Board would name a building at Sacramento City College
as Rodda Hall.
Rodda met English teacher Clarice Horgan when they both taught at Grant Union High School
. Marrying in 1941, they had one son and two daughters.
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
.
Born in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, Rodda graduated from Sacramento High School
Sacramento High School
Sacramento Charter High School is an independent public charter high school located in the Alhambra Triangle, adjacent to the Oak Park neighborhood in Sacramento, California. Its charter was approved by the Sacramento City Unified School District's Board of Trustees on July 21, 2003...
in 1929 before receiving an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1933 and an A.M.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1934, both in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
. After teaching in Sacramento for several years, Rodda entered the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
and was a gunnery officer in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Leaving the Navy Reserve in 1946, he started teaching at Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
. In 1951, Rodda received a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Stanford.
A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Rodda won a 1958 special election to the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
to represent the 19th District
California's 19th State Senate district
California's 19th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Republican Tony Strickland of Moorpark.-District profile:The 19th District includes most of Santa Barbara County and the Simi Valley...
to fill the vacancy from the death of Earl D. Desmond, defeating Desmond's son and two other Democrats. He was re-elected six times but was removed by voters in 1980 and replaced by John Doolittle
John Doolittle
John Taylor Doolittle , American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009, representing . In the 109th Congress, he held a leadership role as the Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House...
.
Shortly after voters removed Rodda from the Senate, Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
appointed Rodda as Executive Secretary of the Commission on State Finance. When Brown left office after losing the 1982 election for U.S. Senate
United States Senate election in California, 1982
The 1988 United States Senate election in California took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator S. I. Hayakawa decided to retire after one term...
to Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
, Rodda left the Commission and was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Los Rios Community College District
Los Rios Community College District
The Los Rios Community College District is a special district providing administrative services and governance for the community colleges serving the greater Sacramento area and points east all the way to Lake Tahoe...
. He left the board in 1992. The Los Rios Community College District Board would name a building at Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
as Rodda Hall.
Rodda met English teacher Clarice Horgan when they both taught at Grant Union High School
Grant Union High School (Sacramento, California)
Grant Union High School is a public high school in Sacramento, California, United States.-Notable alumni:*Don Doll, American football player*Gene Filipski, American football player*David Kilson, American football player*Leron Lee, American football player...
. Marrying in 1941, they had one son and two daughters.