Robert J. Lagomarsino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert J. Lagomarsino
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| Secretary of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1989 |
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| Leader | Bob Michel |
| Preceded by | Clair Burgener |
| Succeeded by | Vin Weber |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California |
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| In office March 13, 1974 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Charles M. Teague |
| Succeeded by | Michael Huffington |
| Constituency | 13th district (1974–75) 19th district (1975–93) |
| Member of the California Senate | |
| In office October 10, 1961 – March 13, 1974 |
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| Preceded by | James J. McBride |
| Succeeded by | Omer Rains |
| Constituency | 33rd district (1961–1966) 24th district (1966–1974) |
| Mayor of Ojai, California | |
| In office December 8, 1958 – October 9, 1961 |
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| Preceded by | Monroe Hirsch |
| Succeeded by | Ralph R. Bennett Jr. |
| Member of the Ojai City Council | |
| In office 1958–1961 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert John Lagomarsino
September 4, 1926 Ventura, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 7, 2021 (aged 94) Ojai, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Norma Jean |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of California, Santa Barbara (BA) Santa Clara University (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Robert John "Bob" Lagomarsino (September 4, 1926 – February 7, 2021) was an American politician and lawyer from California. He served in the United States House of Representatives, which is part of the U.S. Congress. As a Republican, he was first elected to the House in 1974. He was re-elected many times until 1992. Before joining Congress, Lagomarsino served in the California State Senate from 1961 to 1974. Even earlier, he was the mayor of Ojai, California.
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Early Life and Career
Bob Lagomarsino was born in Ventura, California. His parents were Emilio and Marjorie Lagomarsino. He went to schools in Ventura and graduated from Ventura High School in 1944.
After high school, he joined the United States Navy. He served as a pharmacist mate from 1944 to 1946 during World War II. After his military service, he went to college. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1950. In 1953, he received a law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He became a lawyer in 1954 and practiced law in Ventura.
In 1958, Lagomarsino was elected to the Ojai City Council. Later that year, his fellow council members chose him to be the mayor of Ojai. He served as mayor until 1961, when he resigned to join the California Senate.
Serving California in the State Senate
Bob Lagomarsino served in the California State Senate from 1961 to 1974. During his time there, he became a respected leader. He worked on important issues for California. He was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildlife. This committee focused on protecting California's natural environment and animals.
Working in the U.S. Congress
In 1974, a special election was held for California's 13th congressional district. The previous congressman, Charles Teague, had passed away. Bob Lagomarsino was elected to fill this position. He was the only Republican in a special election that year to keep a district for his party.
During his time in the United States House of Representatives, Lagomarsino was very active. He was a key member of two major committees:
- The House Foreign Affairs Committee: This committee deals with how the U.S. interacts with other countries. Lagomarsino focused on U.S. relations with countries in the Western Hemisphere, like Canada, Central America, and South America.
- The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs: This committee works on issues related to U.S. lands, national parks, and Native American affairs.
Lagomarsino also worked on important international issues. He was a Congressional Observer at the Geneva Arms Controls Talks. He also co-chaired a task force on Afghanistan. He was very interested in finding American soldiers who were missing in action (POW/MIA) from the Vietnam War. He even helped create the Prisoner of War Medal.
As a congressman, Lagomarsino traveled to many places around the world. He visited South America, Asia, Europe, and the Soviet Union. He met with leaders in Laos and Vietnam to get information about missing American soldiers. He also observed elections in Panama and the invasion of Kuwait.
Lagomarsino helped create important laws for California. He wrote the law that established the Channel Islands National Park. He also helped create the Dick Smith Wilderness Area and expand the Los Padres National Forest. He worked to open up international markets for U.S. products. He also tried to stop the transfer of important goods or technology to other countries. He was known for almost always voting in Congress and for voting against pay raises for members of Congress.
Re-election Challenge
Before the 1992 elections, the boundaries of congressional districts in California changed. Lagomarsino's home was now in the same district as another Republican, Elton Gallegly. Instead of running against Gallegly, Lagomarsino decided to move to a different district, the 22nd District, to run for re-election. In the Republican primary election, he was challenged by Michael Huffington. Huffington won the election, and Lagomarsino was not re-elected.
Supporting Education
Bob Lagomarsino strongly believed in having a state college in his home area of Ventura County. His dream came true in 2002 with the creation of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). He had previously donated many of his papers, items, and furniture to a campus that later became part of CSUCI. In 2002, the university's library created the Robert J. and Norma M. Lagomarsino Department of Archives and Special Collections to honor him and his wife.
Later Years
Even after leaving politics, Lagomarsino stayed active in his community. He served on many local boards in Santa Barbara County and Ventura County. He and his wife, Norma (who passed away in 2015), lived in Ventura, California. They had three children and six grandchildren. Bob Lagomarsino passed away on February 7, 2021, at his family ranch in Ojai, California.
The visitor's center at Channel Islands National Park is named after him, honoring his work to create the park.
