Albert S. Rodda

Who was Albert S. Rodda?

Albert S. Rodda, Jr. was a California State Senator.

Born in Sacramento, California, Rodda graduated from Sacramento High School in 1929 before receiving an A.B. in 1933 and an A.M. in 1934, both in history, from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. After teaching for several years in Sacramento high schools, Rodda entered the United States Navy Reserve and was a gunnery officer in World War II. Leaving the Navy Reserve in 1946, he started teaching at Sacramento City College. In 1951, Rodda received a Ph.D. in history and economics from Stanford.

A Democrat, Rodda won a 1958 special election to the California State Senate to represent the 19th District to fill the vacancy from the death of Earl D. Desmond, defeating Desmond's son and two other Democrats. He was re-elected six times but was defeated in 1980 in an upset by a newcomer, John Doolittle.

Rodda's best-known legislative legacy is SB 160, enacted in 1975 and taking effect in 1976, which established collective bargaining for California's public school teachers.

Shortly after Rodda's departure from the Senate, the California State Treasurer Jesse M.