Will Rogers, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Vann Rogers, generally known as Will Rogers, Jr. (October 20, 1911–July 9, 1993), was the son of legendary humorist Will Rogers (1879–1935) and his wife, the former Betty Blake (1879–1944), and a Democratic Congressman from California from January 3, 1943 until May 23, 1944, when he resigned to return to the United States Army. Rogers also had several other careers, notably as a newspaper owner/publisher, an actor, and a writer.

Rogers was born in New York City. He grew up in Beverly Hills, California due to his father's involvement in the motion picture industry and attended school there. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1935. Upon completion of his studies, he served as publisher of the Beverly Hills Citizen newspaper, a role in which he continued until 1953. He also was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. However, upon U.S. entry into World War II, he decided to enlist as a private in June 1942, but was commissioned in the field artillery the next month and assigned to the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.

While on active duty, Rogers was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California, and was sworn into office on January 3, 1943 and served in the 78th Congress. He did not complete his term, however, returning to active duty in the Army after his resignation from Congress on May 23, 1944. He was assigned to the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Rogers stayed on active duty until March 1, 1946.

Later in 1946, Rogers won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator from California, but lost in the November general election to the incumbent senator, William F. Knowland. (Coincidentally, both men would eventually commit suicide.) He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1948, 1952, and 1956. Later governmental service included time as a member of the California State Parks Commission (1958–1962; chairman 1960–1962), and special assistant to the Commission on Indian Affairs during the Johnson Administration (1967–1969).

Rogers had a minor career as an actor and was most noted for playing his father (whom he closely resembled), particularly in The Story of Will Rogers (1952). He also appeared frequently in the 1950s television anthology, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. He was also one of several actors to host reruns of Death Valley Days, with the episodes that he hosted airing under the title The Pioneers. For one season in 1958 he was host of the CBS morning show and was replaced by Jimmy Dean.

In his later years Rogers moved to Tubac, Arizona, committing suicide there in 1993. He is buried there, in the Tubac Cemetery.

[edit] External links

• Profile of Rogers in the context of his efforts on behalf of Jews in WWII
• Will Rogers, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Will Rogers Jr.'s grave at Find-a-grave

[edit] See also

There were also three other, unrelated U.S. Representatives named William Rogers:

• New York Congressman William Findlay Rogers (1820-1899) [1]
• New Hampshire Congressman William Nathaniel Rogers (1892-1945) [2]
• Oklahoma Congressman Will Rogers (1898-1983) [3]