James Roy Rowland Jr. (February 3, 1926 – April 25, 2022) was an American World War II veteran, politician, and physician who served six terms as a United States representative from Georgia from 1982 to 1995.

J. Roy Rowland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 8th district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byBilly Lee Evans
Succeeded bySaxby Chambliss
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 119th district
In office
1976–1982
Preceded byWilliam Washington Larsen, Jr.
Succeeded byDuBose Porter
Personal details
Born
James Roy Rowland Jr.

(1926-02-03)February 3, 1926
Wrightsville, Georgia, U.S.
DiedApril 25, 2022(2022-04-25) (aged 96)
Dublin, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSouth Georgia College
University of Georgia
Medical College of Georgia

Early life and education

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Rowland attended Wrightsville High School and graduated in 1943. He then attended Emory University at Oxford, Georgia in 1943, South Georgia College in Douglas, Georgia, in 1946 and the University of Georgia in Athens from 1946 to 1948. Rowland earned his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia in 1952. His education was obtained around his service in the United States Army during World War II as a sergeant from 1944 to 1946. He was a practicing physician from 1952 to 1982.

Political tenure

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Rowland served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1976 through 1982.

Congress

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He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982 when he defeated fellow Democrat Billy Lee Evans, who had been tainted by a scandal of accusations of accepting illegal campaign contributions.[1] Rowland served six terms in Congress, from January 3, 1983, to January 3, 1995, and did not seek re-nomination in 1994.

While in Congress, he introduced the Radiation-Exposed Veterans Compensation Act of 1988[2] and the Veterans Health Programs Extension Act of 1994,[3] both of which were signed into law.

Death and legacy

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The J. Roy Rowland Federal Courthouse in Dublin, Georgia, built in 1935, was renamed for him.[4][5]

Rowland died on April 25, 2022, at the age of 96.[6] He was interred in Westview Cemetery in Wrightsville, Georgia.

References

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  1. ^ Michael Barone and Grant Ujifusa (1991). The Almanac of American Politics 1992. Washington, D.C. pp. 320–321. ISBN 0-89234-051-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "H.R.1811 - Radiation-Exposed Veterans Compensation Act of 1988". Congress.gov. 20 May 1988. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  3. ^ "H.R.3313 - Veterans Health Programs Extension Act of 1994". Congress.gov. 2 November 1994. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Georgia politician, physician J. Roy Rowland passes away at 96". April 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "Roland obituary".
  6. ^ "J. Roy Rowland, Jr., M.D." Stanley Funeral Home & Crematory. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 8th congressional district

January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995
Succeeded by