Steven H. Rodda

The SCC Albert and Clarice Rodda Scholarship is named in memory of Albert and Clarice Rodda, who were longtime residents of Sacramento and who led distinguished lives that were dedicated to public service.

Albert S. Rodda, Jr. was born in Sacramento and went to Sacramento High School before attending Stanford University for his undergraduate degree in history. Albert met Clarice Horgan, an English teacher, when they both taught at Grant Union High School. They married in 1941 and had three children, a son and two daughters.

Albert served in World War II, then began teaching at Sacramento City College in 1946. He subsequently received his PhD in history and economics from Stanford. In 1958, he won a special election to the California State Senate, where he served with distinction until 1980. During that time, he had many notable legislative accomplishments, with one of his lasting legacies being SB 160, which allowed public school teachers in California the right to collective bargaining.

After leaving the senate, Albert Rodda was elected to the Los Rios Community College District Board of Trustees and served from 1983-1992 in this role. In 1980, the Board chose to name a new classroom complex for him as Rodda Hall. Albert passed away in 2010 at age 97.

The Albert and Clarice Rodda Scholarship was funded through many generous gifts in their memory from family and friends. It was endowed by their son, the Honorable Steven H. Rodda (Ret.), who is an SCC alumnus, a Stanford University alumnus like his father, and who served as a Sacramento Superior Court Judge for 27 years before his retirement in 2008.