Woodall Rodgers
Encyclopedia
James Woodall Rodgers was an attorney, businessman and mayor of Dallas.
He received his B.A.
degree from Vanderbilt University
in 1912 and his LL.B. from the University of Texas
in 1915. He began his law practice in Dallas in 1916, but at the outbreak of World War I
, Rodgers joined the United States Army
. He was honorably discharged in 1918 as a Major
in the artillery
. He married his wife, Edna Cristler on November 9, 1920.
Upon his return to Dallas, Rodgers became an associate with Saner & Saner but left in 1925 to found his own firm that specialized in oil and gas law. His firm would eventually come to represent Standard Oil
in legal matters.
In 1939, Rodgers was elected mayor of Dallas, a position he held until 1947. Under his tenure, Love Field underwent expansion, construction began on Central Expressway
(US 75), the Dallas Public Library and the Garza-Little Elm Reservoir, which is currently one of Dallas's largest water supplies.
Rodgers also held positions as a trustee with the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (now the Dallas Museum of Art
) and as a director of the Dallas Symphony, the State Fair of Texas
and the Dallas Public Library. He was also the founder and first president of the Greater Dallas Planning Council.
He died after a lengthy illness on July 6, 1961.
Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which runs north of downtown Dallas
, between U.S. Highway 75 and Interstate 35E
is named in his honor, as is Woodall Rodgers Plaza, which connects the West End
with Victory and runs under the highway that also bears his name.
He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1912 and his LL.B. from the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1915. He began his law practice in Dallas in 1916, but at the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Rodgers joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He was honorably discharged in 1918 as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. He married his wife, Edna Cristler on November 9, 1920.
Upon his return to Dallas, Rodgers became an associate with Saner & Saner but left in 1925 to found his own firm that specialized in oil and gas law. His firm would eventually come to represent Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
in legal matters.
In 1939, Rodgers was elected mayor of Dallas, a position he held until 1947. Under his tenure, Love Field underwent expansion, construction began on Central Expressway
Central Expressway
The following roads are named Central Expressway:*Central Expressway, Singapore*Central Expressway , part of County Route G6 in Santa Clara County, California*Central Expressway , part of U.S. Highway 75 in Dallas, Texas...
(US 75), the Dallas Public Library and the Garza-Little Elm Reservoir, which is currently one of Dallas's largest water supplies.
Rodgers also held positions as a trustee with the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (now the Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art is a major art museum located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, USA, along Woodall Rodgers Freeway between St. Paul and Harwood. In 1984, the museum moved from its previous location in Fair Park to the Arts District, Dallas, Texas...
) and as a director of the Dallas Symphony, the State Fair of Texas
State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas . The fair season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2012 State Fair of Texas will run from September 28th...
and the Dallas Public Library. He was also the founder and first president of the Greater Dallas Planning Council.
He died after a lengthy illness on July 6, 1961.
Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which runs north of downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
, between U.S. Highway 75 and Interstate 35E
Interstate 35E (Texas)
Interstate 35E , an Interstate Highway, is the eastern half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Texas. I-35 splits into two branch routes, I-35W and I-35E at Hillsboro. I-35E runs north for , maintaining I-35's sequence of exit numbers. It runs through Dallas before...
is named in his honor, as is Woodall Rodgers Plaza, which connects the West End
West End, Dallas
The West End Historic District is an area in northwest downtown Dallas, Texas , generally north of Commerce, east of I-35E, west of Lamar and south of Woodall Rodgers Freeway. It is south of Victory Park, west of the Arts, City Center, and Main Street districts, and north of the Government and...
with Victory and runs under the highway that also bears his name.
External links
- James Woodall Rodgers at the Texas State Historical AssociationTexas State Historical AssociationThe Texas State Historical Association or abbreviated TSHA, is a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to documenting the rich and unique history of Texas. It was founded on March 2, 1897. As of November 2008, TSHA moved from Austin to the University of North Texas in Denton.The executive...
- James Woodall Rodgers at the Houston ChronicleHouston ChronicleThe Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...