Byron G. Rogers

World War I

During the First World War, he served as a private in the Infantry, United States Army.

Education

He attended the University of Arkansas in 1918, the University of Oklahoma from 1919 to 1922, and the University of Colorado in 1923 and 1924. He earned his LL.B. at Sturm College of Law, University of Denver, 1925, and commenced the practice of law in Las Animas, Colorado.

Family

He married his secretary, Helen Kepler, in 1933, and they had two children, Shirley Ann and Byron Jr.^[2][3][4]

Defeat and election challenge

In 1970, Rogers was accused of supporting the Vietnam War by his primary challenger, Craig Barnes and his supporters. Rogers lost by 30 votes (27,218 to 27,188) and he and his supporters alleged that University of Denver students who were non-residents from other states had illegally voted in the Primary. However, a recount overseen by the U.S. Federal Election Commission, did not change the Primary Election results.

Nonetheless, according to multiple Denver media outlets, following this controversial Primary and prior to the General Election, 30,000 registered Denver County Democrats rescinded their Democratic Party affiliation, and along with other Rogers’ supporters who remained on the rolls of the Denver County Democratic Party, actively campaigned for the Republican candidate, Denver County District Attorney Mike McKevitt, and elected him to his only term in office by more than a 10,000 vote spread. McKevitt was defeated by Democratic candidate Patricia Schroeder in 1972. Schroeder held the First Congressional District seat in Colorado through her retirement in 1996.

Rogers voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.^[6]

Death and legacy

Rogers was a resident of Denver, Colorado until his death there December 31, 1983. He was interred in Mount Lindo Cemetery near Tiny Town, Colorado.

The Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and United States Courthouse was named in his honor in 1984.