Joe Rogers

Joseph Bernard "Joe" Rogers (July 8, 1964 – October 7, 2013) was an American politician who was the youngest Lieutenant Governor in Colorado history.

Background

Rogers was born on July 8, 1964 in Omaha, Nebraska to Joe Louis Rogers and Lola Marie Rogers. He later moved with his family to Colorado. He received his bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and his law degree from Arizona State University College of Law. He then practiced law in Colorado. Rogers was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Political career

In 1996, Rogers ran for Colorado's First Congressional District as a Republican, gaining 42% of the vote. In 1998 he became the second black lieutenant governor of Colorado after George L. Brown, who served from 1975 to 1979. Personal and political conflicts with his running mate, Governor Bill Owens, kept him off the reelection ticket in 2002. Rogers instead ran in the newly created 7th Congressional District, but placed last out of four in the Republican primary, receiving just 13% of the vote, behind the eventual winner in the general election, Bob Beauprez.

Rogers died after being admitted to the hospital due to back pains on October 7, 2013.