Seaborn Roddenbery

Seaborn Anderson Roddenbery (January 12, 1870 - September 25, 1913) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Georgia, known for his proposal of an anti-miscegenation amendment to the United States Constitution. He was elected to the 61st Congress to replace the deceased James M. Griggs, and re-elected to the 62nd and 63rd Congresses before dying in office.

Early life and career Roddenbery was born on a farm in Decatur County, Georgia, January 12, 1870 to Dr. Seaborn Anderson Roddenbery and Martha America Braswell Roddenbery. As the syrup business grew, Dr. Roddenbery quit the practice of medicine to concentrate on syrup. The young Roddenbery attended public schools before enrolling at Mercer University. After two terms, he was appointed professor of Language and Mathematics at South Georgia College, in McRae, Georgia. Roddenbery was reelected to the 62nd and 63rd Congresses. He died while in office, on September 25, 1913.

Fighting "pension buccaneers" Roddenbery was a conservative on fiscal matters. He earned a reputation for taking on powerful interests which fought to expand the retirement benefits of certain groups which Roddenbery labeled as "pension buccaneers".

Private life Roddenbery married Johnnie Butler on November 5, 1891. They had five children.

Retirement and death A heavy smoker of cigars, Roddenbery's political career was cut short by throat cancer that forced his retirement from active participation in Congress only a few weeks after the failure of H.J. Res 368. Seemingly unaware of the gravity of his illness, he returned home to Georgia only days before his death, telling colleagues that he hoped to return after a period of rest.

Influenced by Roddenbery, anti-miscegenation bills were introduced in 1913 in half of the twenty states where this law did not already exist, though only one, in Wyoming, passed.