Joseph Oscar Rogers Jr. (October 8, 1921 – April 6, 1999) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, he served in the

South Carolina House of Representatives The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections. Unlike many legislatures, seatin ...

from 1955 to 1966 and as the

United States attorney United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal ...

for the Eastern District of South Carolina from 1969 to 1970.

Life and career

Rogers was born in

Mullins, South Carolina Mullins is a city in Marion County, South Carolina, United States. As of the United States Census, 2010, 2010 census, the city population was 4,663. Incorporated on March 4, 1872, Mullins was named after Col. William S. Mullins, who served as a r ...

, the son of Joseph Oscar Rogers Sr. and Lila McDonald. He attended Charleston High School, graduating in 1938. After graduating, he served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, which after his discharge, he attended the

University of South Carolina School of Law The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law School, is a professional school within the University of South Carolina. Founded in 1867, it is the only public and non-profit law school in South Car ...

, earning his LLB degree in 1950. Rogers served in the

from 1955 to 1966. He lost his seat in the House, in 1966, when he ran as a Republican candidate for

governor of South Carolina The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina. The governor is the ''ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making year ...

. He received 184,088 votes, but lost to Democratic incumbent

Robert Evander McNair Robert Evander McNair Sr. (December 14, 1923November 17, 2007) was the List of Governors of South Carolina, 108th governor of South Carolina, a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, who served from 1965 to 1971. Early life and education M ...

, who won with 255,854 votes, which after losing in the gubernatorial election, he served as the

for the Eastern District of South Carolina from 1969 to 1970. Rogers was awarded the

Order of the Palmetto The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service and contributions of national or statewide significan ...

South Carolina governor The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina. The governor is the ''ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making year ...

James B. Edwards in 1979.

Death

Rogers died on April 6, 1999, at his home in

Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...

, at the age of 77.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rogers Jr., Joseph O. 1921 births 1999 deaths People from Mullins, South Carolina Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives South Carolina Republicans United States attorneys for the District of South Carolina University of South Carolina School of Law alumni 20th-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly United States Army personnel of World War II