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Ken Rothman
Kenneth J. Rothman.jpg
41st Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
In office
January 12, 1981 – January 14, 1985
Governor Kit Bond
Preceded by William C. Phelps
Succeeded by Harriett Woods
65th Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
January 5, 1977 – January 7, 1981
Preceded by Richard J. Rabbitt
Succeeded by Bob F. Griffin
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 77th district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 7, 1981
Preceded by Dorothy E. Meagher
Succeeded by Sheila Lumpe
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 36th district
In office
January 4, 1967 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by None (new district)
Succeeded by Leo McKamey
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from St. Louis district 8
In office
January 9, 1963 – January 4, 1967
Preceded by Alfred A. Speer
Succeeded by None (district eliminated)
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Joel Rothman

(1935-10-11)October 11, 1935
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died April 26, 2019(2019-04-26) (aged 83)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse Geraldine Jaffe (divorced)
Children 4
Alma mater Washington University in St. Louis

Kenneth Joel Rothman (born October 11, 1935 – died April 26, 2019) was an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. He is best known for serving as the 41st Lieutenant Governor of Missouri from 1981 to 1985.

Early Life and Education

Kenneth Rothman was born and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He went to public schools in the area. After high school, he attended Washington University in St. Louis.

At the university, he earned a degree in history and political science. He also went on to get his law degree from Washington University.

Military Service and Law Career

Rothman served in the Missouri Air National Guard from 1953 to 1962. He was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. This was a time when there was tension between the United States and the Soviet Union over the city of Berlin.

Before starting his own law practice, Rothman worked as a prosecutor for St. Louis County. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.

Political Career

Kenneth Rothman's journey in politics began in 1962. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state of Missouri. He represented the Clayton area.

He was re-elected to this position eight times, showing that people trusted him. In 1973, his fellow lawmakers chose him as the Majority Leader. This means he was the main leader for his political party in the House.

Later, in 1976, he became the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is the leader of the entire House of Representatives.

Lieutenant Governor

In 1980, Rothman was elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri. The Lieutenant Governor is the second-highest elected official in a state. They often step in if the Governor cannot do their job. Rothman served in this role from 1981 to 1985.

In 1984, he ran for Governor of Missouri. He was the candidate for the Democratic Party. However, he was defeated by Republican John Ashcroft.

Later Career and Legacy

After his time as Lieutenant Governor, Rothman continued his work as a lawyer. He worked with the law firm of Capes, Sokol, Goodman and Sarachan PC starting in 2001.

Kenneth Rothman made history in Missouri. He was the first Jew to be elected to a statewide office in Missouri's history. This was an important moment for diversity in state politics.

His ex-wife, Geri Rothman-Serot, was also involved in politics. Their son, Daniel Rothman, became an attorney.

Death

Kenneth Rothman passed away on April 26, 2019, in St. Louis. He was 83 years old.

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