J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series VI: Audiovisual, 1983-1999

Summary

Creator:
Rowland, J. Roy (James Roy), 1926-2022
Date:
1983-1999
Extent:
272 item(s)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series VI: Audiovisual includes one betacam videocassette, one betamax videocassette, 39 audiocassettes, 81 quarter-inch open reel tapes, 36 3/4" Umatic videocassettes, and 114 VHS videocassettes documenting U.S. House Representative J. Roy Rowland (b. 1926) who served twelve years as a Democrat from Georgia, 1983-1994. Rowland represented Georgia's 8th District, which included the cities of Macon (1983-1994), Albany, Valdosta, and Warner Robins (added to district in 1992). Rowland served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Public Works and Transportation Committee, and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. He also was significantly involved in the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality, and the Congressional Sunbelt Caucus in addition to other memberships on boards, task forces, and caucuses. A medical doctor, Rowland's primary legislative interests focused health issues. Rowland also authored or supported legislation in the areas of transportation, agriculture, education, defense, the environment, and foreign affairs. Series VI: Audiovisual includes campaign ads, House of Representatives footage, news footage, interviews featuring Rowland, and policy-related media.

Biographical / historical:

James Roy Rowland, Jr., was born in Wrightsville, Johnson County, Georgia, on February 3, 1926, to Superior Court Judge and Mrs. J. Roy Rowland, Sr. He attended Wrightsville Primary School and Wrightsville High School, graduating in 1943. He was also an Eagle Scout. Rowland briefly attended Emory University at Oxford, Georgia, as a pre-med student prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, serving from 1944 to 1946. He achieved the rank of sergeant and earned a Bronze Star. After returning from Europe, he attended South Georgia College, the University of Georgia, and eventually enrolled in the Medical College of Georgia where he earned his M.D. in 1952. Soon after, he established a family medical practice in Dublin, Georgia, which he maintained until 1980.

In 1976, Rowland ran for the 119th District seat (part of Laurens County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was elected and served three terms until 1982.

In 1982, he defeated incumbent Billy Lee Evans for the 8th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and served for six consecutive terms as a Democrat. In 1994, he chose not to seek reelection. When Rowland was elected in 1982, the 8th District consisted of the following thirty counties in middle and south Georgia, including the city of Macon: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Bibb, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Dodge, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Monroe, Pierce, Putnam, Taliaferro, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Ware, Washington, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Wilkinson. After redistricting in 1992, Rowland was reelected to the new 8th District in November. The district then comprised thirty-two counties, now including the cities of Macon, Warner Robins, Albany, and Valdosta: Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Echols, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Jones, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, Pulaski, Telfair, Tift, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Worth.

As one of the few medical doctors in Congress (the only doctor in Congress from 1985 to 1988), Rowland capitalized on his experience as a family physician in a largely rural district of Georgia to develop new legislation and contribute to commissions, coalitions, caucuses, and task forces. Rowland belonged to the following House committees and subcommittees: Energy and Commerce Committee (1989-1994), Health and the Environment subcommittee, Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Competitiveness subcommittee, Transportation and Hazardous Materials subcommittee; Veterans' Affairs Committee (1983-1994), Hospitals and Health Care subcommittee (chairman, 1993-1994), Housing and Memorial Affairs subcommittee; Public Works and Transportation Committee (1983-1989), Airports and Aviation subcommittee; Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families (1983-1994).

Rowland also served on a number of boards (e.g. Biomedical Ethics Board), coalitions (e.g., Rural Health Care Coalition), task forces (e.g., Conservative Democratic Forum: Education Task Force), caucuses (e.g., Congressional Sunbelt Caucus, Congressional Arts Caucus) and commissions, including many that were related to health care. Of particular note is his service on the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), an independent, bi-partisan commission charged with making recommendations to Congress and the president towards the creation of a uniform national policy on AIDS and HIV. Rowland drafted the legislation for the commission's founding (H.R. 2881) and Vice President George H. W. Bush appointed Rowland a member of the commission in 1988. Rowland was also appointed to the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality by the Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neil in 1987, and served as vice-chairman. This commission was charged with developing a uniform policy and making recommendations to Congress about infant mortality.

Rowland has received numerous awards, including Peace through Strength Award for his support of defense issues, the Guardian of Small Business Award, and the Legislator of the Year Award in Georgia (1986). In 1998, the Dublin Federal Courthouse was renamed the J. Roy Rowland Federal Courthouse in his honor.

After his congressional career, Rowland has continued to be active in public policy and health care. In 2003, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Rowland to the Commission for a New Georgia to assist with health care issues in the state. In 2005, Perdue appointed him to the Board of Directors of Medical College of Georgia Health, Inc. He has also served as an Advisory Board member to Prevent Child Abuse, Georgia.

Rowland married Luella Price in 1945, and they have three children. Following his career in public service, he and his wife settled in Dublin, GA. Rowland died on April 25, 2022 at the age of 96.

Arrangement:

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series VI: Audiovisual arranged by format.

Access and use restrictions

Restrictions:

Though the collection is open for research, reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

Terms of access:

It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission to reproduce material for publication. Persons wishing to reproduce materials in the Russell Library collections should consult the Director. Reproduction or quotation of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred citation:

J. Roy Rowland Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.