Virgil D. Roberts (April 13, 1922April 6, 2011) was an American farmer,

train dispatcher A train dispatcher (US), rail traffic controller (Canada), train controller (Australia), train service controller (Singapore) or signaller (UK), is employed by a railroad to direct and facilitate the movement of trains over an assigned territ ...

, and Democratic politician from

La Crosse County, Wisconsin La Crosse County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the county's population was 120,784. Its county seat is the city of La Crosse. La Crosse County is included in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropo ...

. He was a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

for 22 years, representing La Crosse County from 1971 to 1985, and from 1987 to 1995.

Early life

Born in

Mindoro, Wisconsin Mindoro ( ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, in the town of Farmington. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was first listed as a CDP prior ...

, Roberts was rejected for military service 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 ...

because of a heart defect.

Career

Roberts became interested in public service after taking a course at

Winona State University Winona State University is a public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States. It was founded as First State Normal School of Minnesota in 1858 and is the oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It was the fi ...

. He later served on the local school board. Roberts worked as a

and farmer. Later, Roberts served as a bank director. From 1971 to 1985 and 1987 to 1993, Roberts served as a member of the

. He was an unsuccessful nominee for the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those o ...

in the 1984 election. Roberts was a Democrat.

Death

He died on April 6, 2011, in

La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse ( ) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 202 ...

, one week before his 89th birthday.Virgil Roberts, Wisconsin Historical Society
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References

, - , - , - 1922 births 2011 deaths Dispatchers Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly People from Farmington, La Crosse County, Wisconsin School board members in Wisconsin Winona State University alumni 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature {{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Democratic-stub