I have been blessed to have some great mentors during my public service career. I lost one of them recently with the passing of former State Senator Richard L. “Dick” Roeding.
Senator Roeding had strong faith in God, loved his family, and was always thinking of others. Dick served his country in the Korean War, completed a successful career as a pharmacist sales representative for Dow Pharmaceutical, and became a lobbyist. He ran for political office for the first time in the Kentucky State Senate at the young age of 60, when most folks are thinking about slowing down. He was truly a political pioneer.
A large portion of the Senate district was in Boone County even though Senator Roeding lived in Kenton County. However, he was well-connected in Boone County as his wife Nancy was the sister of the late Dr. Jim Schrand, who along with his wife Marilyn and their son J.R — now Circuit Judge — were one of Boone County’s most established and popular families.
It is easy for us to forget today that when Senator Roeding ran in 1992 in Boone County, the county was still solidly Democratic. There was not a Republican in the courthouse, and both the Kentucky Governor and the President of the United States were Democrats. Most political pundits predicted he had little chance going up against the candidate hand-picked by the powerful Democratic machine, Gordon Martin.
Dick went to work along with his campaign committee, Chairman Odell Berry, Dr. Herb Booth and others with a grassroots door-to-door campaign that was outspent by the Democrats almost two to one.
On election night, Senator Roeding was the victor and, as they say, the rest is history.
He went on to serve for many years in numerous leadership positions, among them the first Republican President Pro-Tem of the Senate in history, as well as Caucus Chair and Caucus Whip. He served as the chairman of the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus and was instrumental in eliminating the unpopular tailpipe testing program and implementing the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) system to better control prescription drugs.
Always looking out for Northern Kentucky, road funding was one of his top priorities.
Perhaps he was known best for his love and devotion to his wife of 62 years, Nancy. I was chatting with former State Senate President David Williams and he remembered how excited Senator Roeding was every time his wife came to Frankfort.
Perhaps Bishop Foys, who spoke at Senator Roeding’s funeral, said it best: with all his legislative and professional accomplishments in this age of broken promises, perhaps Dick is known best for the legacy he left with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. With all his life’s accomplishments, both professional and legislative, it is interesting that he was truly a shining example to all of us in the way he lived his life with proper priorities.
Sen. John Schickel represents the 11th District in Boone County. If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call him at 502-564-8100, Ext. 617, or visit his LRC webpage to submit a message. Follow him on Twitter at @SenatorSchickel. You can review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.
a great person had planned to visit dick a little late no one should wait visit old friends now. thanks for notifying me. sincerely Max Wetherall 30 Michael St. Scott Depot, WV 25560