biographical statement

Lawrence "Larry" Roberts served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1993-2006. He represented the 51st District of Fayette County, and he was born on November 18, 1941 in Fairbank, Pennsylvania. He attended Yuba County Community College in 1974 and got his A.A. in Education. He also attended the Community College of the Air Force in 1977 and received an A.A. to be an Electrical Technician and an A.A. in Human Resource Management in 1980. At Bowie State College, he received a B.A. in Sociology in 1979, and he got his M.A. in Business Administration at Central Michigan University in 1981. He was in the United States Air Force from 1960-1982 and was a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War and a licensed pilot. From 1979-1983 he was a loan officer at Seymour Johnson Federal Credit Union, and from 1983-1991 he was a Human Resource Analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense. He was a self-employed arbitrator from 1983-1993. During his time in the House, he served on the Business & Economic Development Committee from 1993-1994; Commerce & Economic Development Committee from 1995-2002 and as Subcommittee Chair on Financial Service & Banking from 2001-2002; Local Government Committee from 1993-1994; Military & Veterans Affairs Committee from 1993-1996; Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee from 1997-2000 and as Secretary from 1997-2000; Aging & Youth Committee from 1995-1998; Transportation Committee from 1993-2006 and as Secretary from 1993-1994, Subcommittee Chair on Highways from 1995-1996, and Subcommittee Chair on Railroads from 2003-2006; Agricultural & Rural Affairs Committee from 2001-2004; Commerce Committee from 2003-2006; and Professional Licensure Committee from 2003-2006. He was also a member of the Coal Caucus, serving as Chair, the Steel Caucus as a former Vice-Chair, the Southwest Democratic Caucus, and the former Treasurer of the Tax Reform Caucus. Roberts ran on a platform of eliminating property taxes in Pennsylvania and it was his passion during his fourteen years as a Representative. His accomplishments during his tenure include the creation of Local Development Districts, the institution of Caller ID in Pennsylvania, the push for the building of the Mon-Fayette Highway in his District and “Bill’s Law,” regarding the disposition of a person’s remains. Roberts retired from the House in 2006 and is currently employed as an arbitrator.

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