Title: J. Roy Rowland Papers, Series I: Administrative
Creator:
Rowland, J. Roy (James Roy), 1926-2022
Inclusive Dates: 1982-1994
Language(s): English
Extent:
63 box(es)
(30.5 linear feet)
Collection Number: RBRL112JRR_I
Repository:
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: The Administrative files document 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. Papers primarily document the activities of Rowland's Washington, D.C., office and include legislative research files, bill files, legislative mail, constituent mail, speeches and statements, subject files, invitations, schedules, project and grant files, casework, clippings, and press releases.
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.
The Administrative Series consists of subject files, campaign records, clippings and press releases, bills, voting records, and committee files. Of particular note is Member-to-Member correspondence that reflects Rowland's communication with other representatives seeking support on various issues and requesting to be appointed to particular committees. The legislation files document Rowland's legislative interests, primarily related to health care. Included is a comprehensive list of the bills Rowland introduced as well as printed copies of some of these bills. Though representative of Rowland's membership on committees, caucuses and other groups and forums, Committees/Caucuses files contain primarily meeting and hearing notices and some agendas for the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. The press files consist of clippings and news releases, arranged chronologically, mostly from 1991 to 1993. The bulk of the collection's news clippings, organized by subject, can be found in Series IV. Press. Campaign files includes records of contributions and letters of support related to Rowland's 1984 re-election campaign. There is some information on how various organizations, such as the AFL-CIO and Christian Voice, interpreted Rowland's stance on specific issues.
Thermofax and fax paper has been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Originals have been kept in addition to preservation photocopies when Rowland or his staff made additional notations. Photographs and audiovisual materials have been separated for preservation purposes.
Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.
Paul D. Coverdell Papers, Georgia College and State University
Sam Nunn Papers, Robert W. Woodruff Library's Special Collections Department at Emory University
Newt Gingrich Papers, University of West Georgia
Culver Kidd Papers, Georgia Southern University
University of West Georgia's Political Heritage Program Oral Histories
J. Roy Rowland, Jr. Commercials, 1988, Political Commercial Archive, University of Oklahoma
National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Records, 1983-1994, Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, MS C 544
Congressional Sunbelt Caucus Collection, Carl Albert Center, University of Oklahoma
Paul D. Coverdell Papers, Georgia College and State University
Sam Nunn Papers, Robert W. Woodruff Library's Special Collections Department at Emory University
Newt Gingrich Papers, University of West Georgia
Culver Kidd Papers, Georgia Southern University
University of West Georgia's Political Heritage Program Oral Histories
J. Roy Rowland, Jr. Commercials, 1988, Political Commercial Archive, University of Oklahoma
National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Records, 1983-1994, Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, MS C 544
Congressional Sunbelt Caucus Collection, Carl Albert Center, University of Oklahoma
Paul D. Coverdell Papers, Georgia College and State University
Sam Nunn Papers, Robert W. Woodruff Library's Special Collections Department at Emory University
Newt Gingrich Papers, University of West Georgia
Culver Kidd Papers, Georgia Southern University
University of West Georgia's Political Heritage Program Oral Histories
J. Roy Rowland, Jr. Commercials, 1988, Political Commercial Archive, University of Oklahoma
National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Records, 1983-1994, Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, MS C 544
Congressional Sunbelt Caucus Collection, Carl Albert Center, University of Oklahoma
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).