Representative Roger Herschel Zion

Roger Herschel Zion (September 17, 1921 – September 24, 2019) was an American World War II veteran, businessman, and Republican politician who served as a Representative from Indiana in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1967, to January 3, 1975. Over the course of four consecutive terms, he represented his southern Indiana district during a significant and turbulent period in American history, contributing to the legislative process and participating actively in the democratic governance of the nation.

Zion was born in Escanaba, Michigan, on September 17, 1921. During his childhood he moved with his family and attended public schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and later in Evansville, Indiana. He graduated from Benjamin Bosse High School in Evansville, where he distinguished himself early by becoming an Eagle Scout in 1932, an achievement that reflected his lifelong interest in leadership and civic engagement. He went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943, just as the United States was deeply engaged in World War II.

With the nation at war, Zion entered military service shortly after completing his undergraduate studies. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946, spending much of his active duty in the Asia-Pacific theater during World War II. Over the course of his service he rose to the rank of lieutenant, and his experience in the Navy during a global conflict would later inform his views on foreign policy and national defense. During part of this period, from 1944 to 1945, he attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, furthering his education in business and management while still in uniform.

Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946, Zion embarked on a business career that would span nearly two decades before he entered Congress. In 1946 he became associated with Mead Johnson & Company, a major pharmaceutical and nutrition firm headquartered in Evansville. He remained with the company through 1965, holding a series of increasingly responsible positions and eventually serving as director of training and professional relations. His work at Mead Johnson placed him in close contact with corporate leadership, including D. Mead Johnson, and gave him experience in administration, corporate strategy, and professional outreach that would later prove useful in public office.

Zion’s transition into electoral politics came at the encouragement of D. Mead Johnson, who suggested that he seek a seat in Congress. Acting on that advice, Zion ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1964 but was unsuccessful, losing to the incumbent Democrat Winfield K. Denton. Undeterred, he ran again in 1966, once more challenging Denton. In that election he unseated the incumbent, winning the right to represent Indiana’s district in the 90th Congress. He took office on January 3, 1967, and was subsequently re-elected to the three succeeding Congresses, serving continuously until January 3, 1975. His tenure coincided with the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and major social and political upheavals. In 1967, amid intensifying opposition to the Vietnam War, Zion drew attention for his strong criticism of anti-war demonstrators, calling protesters “traitors” and suggesting that those involved in illegal acts be treated comparably to French collaborators in World War II whose heads were shaved for aiding the Germans. During his years in the House, he was a member of the Republican Party and represented the interests of his Indiana constituents while participating in national legislative debates. He also became known in some circles for his participation in competitive bridge, taking part in tournaments against corporate executives, including Warren Buffett, and members of the British Parliament, both during and after his congressional service.

Zion’s congressional career came to an end following the 1974 elections. Running for a fifth term, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 94th Congress, losing to Democratic state senator Philip H. Hayes. That defeat marked the beginning of a long period of frequent partisan turnover in the district, which became known colloquially as the “Bloody Eighth” because of its highly competitive and often closely contested races. After leaving office in January 1975, Zion remained active in the professional world, moving to Washington, D.C., where he became president of Resources Development Inc., a firm based in the nation’s capital. He continued to maintain ties to both the business and political communities and remained engaged in civic and social activities, including his long-standing interest in bridge.

In his later years, Zion resided for a time in Washington, D.C., but eventually returned to Evansville, Indiana, the city where he had attended high school and begun his business career. As of 2011 he was noted as living in Washington, D.C., before his final move back to Evansville. He died there on September 24, 2019, one week after his 98th birthday. He was survived by his wife of 74 years, the former Marjorie Emma Knauss, and three children, closing a long life that had spanned military service in World War II, a substantial business career, four terms in the United States Congress, and decades of continued professional and civic involvement.