Roger William Jepsen (December 23, 1928 – November 13, 2020) was an American politician from Iowa. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1973 and a member of the United States Senate for one term from 1979 to 1985. Jepsen later was the chairman of National Credit Union Administration from 1985 to 1993 where he helped oversee more than 14,000 credit unions nationally.
Roger Jepsen | |
|---|---|
 Jepsen in 1983 | |
| United States Senator from Iowa | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Dick Clark |
| Succeeded by | Tom Harkin |
| 38th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| In office January 16, 1969 – January 18, 1973 | |
| Governor | Robert D. Ray |
| Preceded by | Robert D. Fulton |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Neu |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office 1966–1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roger William Jepsen December 23, 1928 Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 2020 (aged 91) Bettendorf, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Dorothy Ann Lambertson
(m. 1948, divorced)Dee Ann Delaney (m. 1958) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Arizona State University |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1946–1947 1948–1960 |
Early life
editJepsen was born on December 23, 1928, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Emil Jepsen and the former Esther Sorensen. His grandparents were all Danish immigrants.[1] Jepsen attended public schools.
Education
editJepsen attended University of Northern Iowa. Jepsen graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, in 1950 with a bachelor's degree and in 1953 with a master's degree. At ASU, Jepsen was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.[2]
Career
editJepsen became a paratrooper in the United States Army 1946–1947 and served in the United States Army Reserve 1948–1960, where he achieved the rank of captain. He was active in farming, insurance and health care businesses.
Jepsen served as a county supervisor of Scott County, Iowa from 1962 to 1965 and was a member of the Iowa Senator from 1966 to 1968. He was the 39th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1973, having been elected with Governor Robert D. Ray in 1968.
In 1978, he was elected to the United States Senate, narrowly defeating incumbent Dick Clark in a major surprise, receiving strong support from National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC). During the campaign, Jepsen taunted Senator Clark as "the Senator from Africa" because of Clark's work on behalf of the people in South Africa against their apartheid government.[3] He served a single term from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1985. He served as co-chairman of the United States Congressional Joint Economic Committee in the 98th United States Congress.
Fellow Republican colleagues praised Jepsen for persuading then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan to lift the agricultural ban against the Soviet Union.[4]
Jepsen was defeated by Democratic U.S. representative Tom Harkin in the 1984 Senate election. Jepsen later served as chairman of the National Credit Union Administration.
During part of his tenure in the Senate, Jepsen sat at the Candy Desk.
Personal life and death
edit
Jepsen married twice, first to Dorothy Ann Lambertson in 1948, they had four children. The marriage ended in divorce. He then married Dee Ann Delaney in 1958 and they had one son together.
Jepsen died on November 13, 2020, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa, at age 91.[5][6] He was interred at Davenport Memorial Park in Davenport, Iowa.
References
edit- ^ "FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Distinguished Alumni". Tau Kappa Epsilon. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Rogers, David (December 26, 2013). "A Nelson Mandela backstory: Iowa's Dick Clark". Politico. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ Tolchin, Martin (27 July 1984). "CONGRESS; THE G.O.P. ROADSHOW OF MUTUAL ADMIRATION". New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ Mohmand, Amber (November 15, 2020). "Former U.S. Senator Roger Jepsen dies at 91". Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ McFadden, Robert D. (November 15, 2020). "Roger Jepsen, Senator From Iowa and Reagan Ally, Dies at 91". New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
External links
edit- Obituary
- United States Congress. "Roger Jepsen (id: J000101)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN