Robert T. Monagan
Encyclopedia
Robert Timothy Monagan, Jr. (July 5, 1920 – January 7, 2009) was a California
politician and a member of the Republican Party
, who was Speaker of the California State Assembly from 1969–1970. He served in the California State Assembly
, representing the 12th district from 1961 until 1973.
Born in Ogden, Utah
, Monagan grew up in Vallejo, California
and earned his Bachelor of Science
in Business Administration in 1942 from the College of the Pacific (later the University of the Pacific), where he played basketball
and was student body president
.
From 1943–1946, including during World War II
, he served as a United States Coast Guard
officer
, seeing duty in the Aleutian Islands.
After the war, he returned to California to become the graduate manager of athletics for the University of the Pacific.
Monagan moved to Tracy, California
in 1950 to be secretary-manager of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce
.
In 1952, he became chief of staff
for Congressman
Leroy Johnson in Washington, D.C.
Monagan returned to Tracy in 1954 to begin working in insurance
and real estate
, eventually founding Monagan-Miller-McInerney Insurance, which eventually became the largest insurance agency in the region surrounding Tracy.
He was elected to the Tracy City Council
in 1958 and became mayor
in 1960. That same year, he was elected for the California State Assembly
to represent 12th District
.
Monagan was re-elected five more times. He became Assembly Republican Leader
in 1965 and held that post until becoming Speaker of the Assembly in 1969. After the 1970 elections, Monagan again became Assembly Republican Leader and held that post until becoming United States Assistant Secretary of Transportation
in 1973.
In 1974, Monagan returned to California to become vice president (and later president) of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. In 1984, he left the CMTA to become president of the California Economic Development Corporation, serving until 1994.
A portion of the I-205
which runs through Tracy which is named after him.
Monagan served on the Board of Regents
of the University of the Pacific from 1991–April 2007, including nine years as Chairman, and the University's Monagan Hall is named for him and his wife. Monagan Hall is a student housing complex consisting of four-bedroom suites available only to juniors and seniors.
With his wife, Ione, he had one son, Michael and one daughter, Marilee.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
politician and a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, who was Speaker of the California State Assembly from 1969–1970. He served in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, representing the 12th district from 1961 until 1973.
Born in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, Monagan grew up in Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
and earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Business Administration in 1942 from the College of the Pacific (later the University of the Pacific), where he played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and was student body president
Student body president
The President of the Student Government is the highest ranking officer of a student government or student union association on the high school, college, or university level...
.
From 1943–1946, including 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...
, he served as a United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, seeing duty in the Aleutian Islands.
After the war, he returned to California to become the graduate manager of athletics for the University of the Pacific.
Monagan moved to Tracy, California
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
in 1950 to be secretary-manager of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
In 1952, he became chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
for Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Leroy Johnson in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Monagan returned to Tracy in 1954 to begin working in insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, eventually founding Monagan-Miller-McInerney Insurance, which eventually became the largest insurance agency in the region surrounding Tracy.
He was elected to the Tracy City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 1958 and became mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 1960. That same year, he was elected for the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
to represent 12th District
California's 12th State Assembly district
California's 12th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Fiona Ma of San Francisco.-District profile:...
.
Monagan was re-elected five more times. He became Assembly Republican Leader
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
in 1965 and held that post until becoming Speaker of the Assembly in 1969. After the 1970 elections, Monagan again became Assembly Republican Leader and held that post until becoming United States Assistant Secretary of Transportation
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
in 1973.
In 1974, Monagan returned to California to become vice president (and later president) of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. In 1984, he left the CMTA to become president of the California Economic Development Corporation, serving until 1994.
A portion of the I-205
Interstate 205 (California)
Interstate 205 is a short Interstate Highway that connects Interstate 5 with Interstate 580 in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Along with those highways, I-205 forms the north side of a triangle around the city of Tracy...
which runs through Tracy which is named after him.
Monagan served on the Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
of the University of the Pacific from 1991–April 2007, including nine years as Chairman, and the University's Monagan Hall is named for him and his wife. Monagan Hall is a student housing complex consisting of four-bedroom suites available only to juniors and seniors.
With his wife, Ione, he had one son, Michael and one daughter, Marilee.