Robert A. Roe

Robert A. Roe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 8th district
In office
November 4, 1969  January 3, 1993
Preceded by Charles S. Joelson
Succeeded by Herb Klein
Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation
In office
January 3, 1991  January 3, 1993
Preceded by Glenn M. Anderson
Succeeded by George Brown, Jr.
Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology
In office
January 3, 1987  January 3, 1991
Preceded by Don Fuqua
Succeeded by Norman Mineta
Personal details
Born Robert Aloysius Roe
(1924-02-28)February 28, 1924
Wayne, New Jersey, U.S.
Died July 15, 2014(2014-07-15) (aged 90)
Green Pond, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Oregon State University
Washington State University

Robert Aloysius "Bob" Roe (February 28, 1924 – July 15, 2014) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives for over 23 years, serving from November 4, 1969 to January 3, 1993.

Biography

Roe was born in Wayne, New Jersey on February 28, 1924. He attended college at Oregon State University in Corvallis and Washington State University in Pullman. During World War II, Roe served in the United States Army. Roe served as a committeeman of Wayne from 1955–1956 and became the Mayor of Wayne Township in 1956, serving in that capacity until 1961. He also served on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1959–1963, and as Freeholder Director in 1962 and 1963.[1]

In 1963, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Conservation and Economic Development Department and served until his 1969 resignation.[2] In 1969, Charles S. Joelson resigned from Congress. On November 4, Roe was elected as Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election.[1]

Roe had a mostly liberal voting record, but he was pro-life on abortion. During the 1980s, conservative radio talk show host Bob Grant often bitterly attacked Roe on his program.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1977 and 1981. Roe served as Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (1987–1991) and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, 1991–93. Roe retired after the 1992 election and later worked as a consultant.[1]

The former lawmaker was convicted of driving drunk when he crashed into a minivan in Rockaway Township, New Jersey in 1993, seriously injuring a woman and her 15-year-old daughter. In January 2008 a bill was passed to name Route 23 after the former Congressman. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is protesting against the plan to name the highway after a man who seriously injured two people while driving drunk. A spokesman stated that Governor Jon Corzine did not know about the accident when he signed the bill and that a second bill would have to be passed by the New Jersey Legislature to overturn the naming.[3]

Roe died of congestive heart failure at his home in the Green Pond section of Rockaway Township, New Jersey at the age of 90 on July 15, 2014.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fried, Joseph P. "Robert Roe, New Jersey Congressman Called ‘Mr. Jobs,’ Dies at 90", The New York Times, July 15, 2014. Accessed July 16, 2014. "Robert A. Roe, who as a congressman from New Jersey for 23 years played a key role in financing projects to expand the nation’s highway and mass transit systems and to combat water and ground pollution, died on Tuesday at his home in Green Pond, N.J."
  2. 1 2 Jackson, Herb. "Former Rep. Robert Roe, longtime congressman from Passaic County, dies at age 90", The Record (Bergen County), July 15, 2014. Accessed July 16, 2014. "Roe died at home in Rockaway Township of congestive heart failure, according to his godson, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, R Wayne."
  3. Jennings, Rob. "MADD: Put brakes on plan to name road after ex-lawmaker who drove drunk - Former Rep. Robert A. Roe had crashed, seriously hurt two", Daily Record (Morristown), February 12, 2008; accessed February 12, 2008.
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Charles S. Joelson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 8th congressional district

19691993
Succeeded by
Herbert Klein
Political offices
Preceded by
Don Fuqua
Florida
Chairman of House Science Committee
19871991
Succeeded by
George Brown, Jr.
California
Preceded by
Glenn M. Anderson
California
Chairman of House Transportation Committee
19911993
Succeeded by
Norman Mineta
California
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