Life and career

Roger Jepsen was born the son of Emil Jepsen and Esther (Sorensen) Jepsen on December 23, 1928 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he attended the public schools and the University of Northern Iowa. He graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona in 1950 with a bachelor's degree and in 1953 with a master's degree. At ASU, Jepsen was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon, initiating in 1949.

Jepsen became a paratrooper in the United States Army 1946-1947 and served in the United States Army Reserve 1948-1960. He was active in farming, insurance and health care businesses.

Jepsen served as a county supervisor of Scott County from 1962 to 1965 and was a state Senator from 1966 to 1968. He was the 39th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1973, having been elected with Governor Robert D. Ray in 1968.

In 1978 he was elected to the United States Senate, narrowly defeating incumbent Richard C. Clark in a major surprise, receiving strong support from National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC). He served a single term from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1985. He served as co-chairman of the Joint Economic Committee in the 98th Congress.

Fellow Republican colleagues praised Jepsen for persuading President Reagan to lift the agricultural ban against the Soviet Union

Jepsen was defeated by Democratic Congressman Tom Harkin in the 1984 Senate election. Jepsen later served as chairman of the National Credit Union Administration. He and his family reside in Alexandria, Virginia.

During part of his tenure in the Senate, Jepsen sat at the Candy desk.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]