Kenneth A. Roberts

For other persons named Ken(neth) Roberts, see Kenneth Roberts.

Kenneth Allison Roberts (November 1, 1912 – May 9, 1989) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.

Biography

Born in Piedmont, Alabama, Roberts attended the public schools and Howard College, Birmingham, Alabama. He was graduated from the University of Alabama Law School in 1935 and admitted to the bar in 1936. He practiced law in Anniston, Alabama (1936) and in Talladega (1937–1942).

Roberts was elected to the Alabama State Senate in 1942 and resigned the same year to enter the United States Navy. He served in both Atlantic and Pacific Theaters until discharged as a lieutenant in 1945. He was president of Piedmont Development Co. from 1945 to 1950. From 1948 to 1950 he served as member of Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs and city attorney of Piedmont, Alabama.

Roberts was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-second and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1965). He was wounded in the 1954 U.S. Capitol shooting incident. In 1957, he voted against H.R. 6127, Civil Rights Act of 1957. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1964 to the Eighty-ninth Congress.

Roberts led the establishment of federal safety legislation through the House of Representatives subcommittee on traffic safety which was formed in 1956.

He resumed the practice of law until his retirement in 1979. From 1965 to 1972 he was Counsel for the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission. He served as member of the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee from 1966 to 1970.

He was a resident of Anniston, Alabama until his death due to congestive heart failure in Potomac, Maryland, on May 9, 1989. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

See also

• United States Congress members killed or wounded in office

Bibliography

• Kenneth A. Roberts at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• Kenneth A. Roberts at Find a Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Sam Hobbs	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1951–1963	Succeeded by Arthur Andrews
Preceded by district inactive	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's at-large congressional district 1963–1965	Succeeded by district inactive

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.