Legislative Reference Library

Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Rogers Caswell Kelley

Rogers Kelley
Full Name: Rogers Caswell Kelley
Birth date: December 11, 1902
Death date: October 24, 1982

Terms of Service

  • Senate, 54th & 53rd (1) Legislatures
    1/13/1953 - 1/8/1957
    Democrat
    Senate President Pro Tempore, Regular Session, elected 1/13/1953.
  • Senate, 52nd (4) Legislature
    1/9/1951 - 1/13/1953
    Democrat
  • Senate, 51st & 50th Legislatures
    1/14/1947 - 1/9/1951
    Democrat
  • Senate, 49th (2) & 48th Legislatures
    1/12/1943 - 1/14/1947
    Democrat
  • Senate, 47th & 46th (3) Legislatures
    1/10/1939 - 1/12/1943
    Democrat
(1) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal .
(2) "The President also announced that Senator Kelley is now serving in the Armed Forces and is not expected to attend the Regular Session of the Forty-ninth Legislature." 1/9/1945, p. 8. Senate Journal .
(3) 46th Legislature - Roll Call of Senators-Elect, oath of office administered, 1/10/1939, p. 8. Senate Journal .
(4) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1952 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, ยง3, Election and term of office of Senators .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Selected Newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • "The President announces that Senator Kelley is now serving in the Armed Forces and is not expected to attend the Regular Session of the Forty-ninth Legislature." 49th Legislature, R.S., 1945, p. 8. Senate Journal .

Photographs

Other Resources

  • World War II service, Lieutenant, "Legislature Faces Problem of Absences: Men in Armed Forces Can't Get Leave to Attend Sessions," 1/1/1943. Dallas Morning News .
  • Rogers Caswell Kelley, death date 10/24/1982 in Hidalgo County. FamilySearch Texas Death Index, 1964-1998 .
  • Army Air Corps, Captain; photo in military uniform. Rogers C. Kelley, birth date 12/11/1902, death date 10/24/1982, burial in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio. Find a Grave .
  • Mentioned in "Lawmakers Pondering War, Duty," 2/27/2003. San Antonio Express-News .
  • Pictured in uniform in 48th Senate composite photo and listed as Lt. Rogers Kelley; Pictured in uniform and listed as Capt. Rogers Kelley in the 49th Senate composite. State Preservation Board . State Preservation Board
  • Memorial, April 1983, p. 510. Texas Bar Journal .
  • United States Air Force, Captain. "His (Kelley's) senate career was interrupted during World War II. He was a combat intelligence officer with the 20th Air Force's B-29 group. He was stationed on Saipan in the Marianas Islands. He was discharged with the rank of captain in 1945." Memorial, April 1983, p. 510. Texas Bar Journal .
  • United States Air Force. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country 2017.

Committee Information

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