Roebuck, James R., Jr., 1945-2024

Biography

James R. Roebuck Jr., was born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania on February 12, 1945. He graduated from Central High School in 1963 before gradyating from Virginia Union University with a Bachelors Degree in 1966. Roebuck also graduated with his Masters from the University of Virginia in 1966, and obtain his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 1977.

Following his studies, Roebuck was a lecturer and assistant professor at Drexel University from 1970 to 1984. It was during this time he was also a legislative assistant for Wilson Goode, the Mayor of Philadlephia for the 1984-1985 term. He was heavily involved in local poltics as a member of the 60th War Democratic Executive Committee 7th Division. He was also a vice chair of the 46th Ward Democratic Committee, 25th Division, in addition to serving as a Member of the Democratic State Committee.

Roebuck was elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a special election on May 21, 1985, and was sworn in on June 3, 1985. He served 17 subsequent terms. Education was one of his biggest issues before serving in the House, and while serving in the House.He served as minority and majority chair of the Education Committee for most of his tenure in the House. He was appointed to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from 1991 to 1995, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency from 1995 to 2020, Special Education Funding Commission from 2019 to 2020, and the Higher Education Funding Commission from 2019 to 2020. Roebuck had an unsucccessful campaign for the House in 2020.

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