Frank E. Rodgers
Encyclopedia
Francis E. Rodgers was an American
Democratic Party
politician who was among the longest-serving Mayor
s in U.S. history, first elected in 1946 as Mayor of Harrison, New Jersey. He served in the position for 48 years from 1947 to 1995, having been elected to 24 consecutive two-year terms in office. On May 30, 1987, Rodgers earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records
when he surpassed by a single day Mayor Erastus Corning
of Albany, New York
, who died in office in 1983 after having served 40 years, 4 months and 28 days in office. The town marked the occasion by letting students out early from the town's public schools and by closing municipal offices in the mayor's honor. However, Mayor Hilmar Moore
of Richmond, Texas, has now served much longer, with nearly 60 years in office.
Rodgers ran for the Harrison Town Council for the first time in 1935, and served there for ten years, including a term when he was re-elected to office while serving 27 months in the United States Army
during World War II
in the Counterintelligence Corps.
Rodgers defeated incumbent Frederick J. Gassert in his first bid for the mayoralty, a candidate backed by Jersey City
Mayor Frank Hague
's Hudson County Democratic Party machine. Over his years in office, Rodgers has served as Town Clerk, as County Clerk, as a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders
and as the Board's clerk. He served one term in the New Jersey Senate
, from 1978 to 1982, defeating Republican incumbent Anthony Imperiale
.
Rodgers served on numerous state authorities and commissions, including being appointed secretary of the New Jersey Racing Commission by Governor
Richard J. Hughes
in 1963, to the New Jersey Highway Authority
in 1976 by Governor Brendan Byrne
, and to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority
by Republican Governor Thomas Kean
in 1984.
Rodgers won his final election campaign in November 1992 by a narrow 111 votes out of 3,600 votes cast, in this heavily-Democratic community, having been unable to campaign due to a chronic knee injury. Rodgers cited the injury and his desire to allow a younger generation to serve in office as his justification for declining to run for a 25th term in office. He maintained his position as chairman of the Harrison Democratic Committee after leaving office in 1995.
Rodgers was inducted into the Mayors' Hall of Fame in 1995 by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities
, having been the prime proponent for the creation of the hall during his tenure with the organization.
Rodgers died on February 8, 2000 and was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery
in North Arlington, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
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...
politician who was among the longest-serving Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s in U.S. history, first elected in 1946 as Mayor of Harrison, New Jersey. He served in the position for 48 years from 1947 to 1995, having been elected to 24 consecutive two-year terms in office. On May 30, 1987, Rodgers earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
when he surpassed by a single day Mayor Erastus Corning
Erastus Corning
Erastus Corning I , American businessman and politician, was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Corning moved to Troy, New York at the age of 13 to clerk in the hardware store of an uncle; six years later he moved to Albany, New York, where he joined the mercantile business under James Spencer...
of Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, who died in office in 1983 after having served 40 years, 4 months and 28 days in office. The town marked the occasion by letting students out early from the town's public schools and by closing municipal offices in the mayor's honor. However, Mayor Hilmar Moore
Hilmar Moore
Hilmar Moore is an American rancher and the mayor of Richmond, Texas. He was first elected mayor in 1949 and has remained in office ever since, making him "probably the longest-serving elected official in the US," according to a 2008 BBC News report...
of Richmond, Texas, has now served much longer, with nearly 60 years in office.
Biography
He was born on November 15, 1909 to Michael Rodgers and Johanna Davin.Rodgers ran for the Harrison Town Council for the first time in 1935, and served there for ten years, including a term when he was re-elected to office while serving 27 months in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during 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...
in the Counterintelligence Corps.
Rodgers defeated incumbent Frederick J. Gassert in his first bid for the mayoralty, a candidate backed by Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
Mayor Frank Hague
Frank Hague
Frank Hague was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1917 to 1947, Democratic National Committeeman from New Jersey from 1922 until 1949, and Vice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1924 until 1949.Hague has a widely-known...
's Hudson County Democratic Party machine. Over his years in office, Rodgers has served as Town Clerk, as County Clerk, as a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
and as the Board's clerk. He served one term in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
, from 1978 to 1982, defeating Republican incumbent Anthony Imperiale
Anthony Imperiale
Anthony M. Imperiale, Sr. was a member of the New Jersey State Senate from Newark, New Jersey.-Biography:He was born on July 10, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey. He later served in the United States Marine Corps who during the Korean War.In the 1960's he opposed desegregation busing in the United States...
.
Rodgers served on numerous state authorities and commissions, including being appointed secretary of the New Jersey Racing Commission by Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Richard J. Hughes
Richard J. Hughes
Richard Joseph Hughes was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973–1979...
in 1963, to the New Jersey Highway Authority
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
in 1976 by Governor Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
, and to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
by Republican Governor Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
in 1984.
Rodgers won his final election campaign in November 1992 by a narrow 111 votes out of 3,600 votes cast, in this heavily-Democratic community, having been unable to campaign due to a chronic knee injury. Rodgers cited the injury and his desire to allow a younger generation to serve in office as his justification for declining to run for a 25th term in office. He maintained his position as chairman of the Harrison Democratic Committee after leaving office in 1995.
Rodgers was inducted into the Mayors' Hall of Fame in 1995 by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities
New Jersey State League of Municipalities
The New Jersey State League of Municipalities is a voluntary association created by State Statute in 1915 to serve municipalities and local officials in the U.S. state of New Jersey. All 566 of New Jersey's municipalities are members of the League and all elected and appointed officials of member...
, having been the prime proponent for the creation of the hall during his tenure with the organization.
Rodgers died on February 8, 2000 and was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington
Holy Cross Cemetery is a cemetery located in North Arlington, New Jersey, United States. Since its establishment in 1915, it has interred over 250,000 individuals. The cemetery operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark...
in North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,392...
.