Rodney Pyles
Rodney Pyles | |
|---|---|
| Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 51st district | |
| In office December 1, 2016 – December 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Kurcaba |
| Succeeded by | Joe Statler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodney Allen Pyles June 21, 1945 |
| Died | April 7, 2026 (aged 80) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Carol Louise Wrobleski
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University (BA, master's) |
Rodney Allen Pyles (June 21, 1945 – April 7, 2026) was an American politician who served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 51st district from 2016 to 2020.
Early life
[edit]Rodney Allen Pyles was born on June 21, 1945, as the fourth child of Lucy (née Scarcella) and Melford J. Pyles.[1] He was raised at Wiles Hill in Morgantown, West Virginia. He graduated from Morgantown High School in 1963.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in politicial science from West Virginia University (WVU).[1][2] He attended the university on a Benedum Scholarship and graduated from WVU with a master's degree in political science in 1967.[1][2][3] At the university, he worked as a research assistant and student librarian. He was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Alpha Theta, Young Democrats, Astronomy Club, and the university's orchestra.[3]
Career
[edit]In August 1969, Pyles joined Alderson Broaddus University as a sociology professor.[3] From 1971 to 1977, he was assistant curator at WVU's library.[1][2] In 1977, he was appointed as state archivist by Governor Jay Rockefeller.[1][2] He then returned to Morgantown and served as the assessor of Monongalia County for over 20 years.[1]
Pyles was a Democrat. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 51st district, from 2016 to 2020.[1][4][5] He sponsored a bill to ban the declawing of cats.[1] In 2018, Pyles and the Democrats swept all five seats in the 51st district, the largest multi-member district in the House.[6] As a result, the Monongalia County delegates, all Democrats, called themselves “The Fab Five” and frequently voted and worked together on bills.[7] In 2020, he was defeated for re-election by former Republican Delegate Joe Statler, breaking the all-Democratic delegation.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Pyles married Carol Louise Wrobleski on May 21, 1972. They had one daughter, Janessa Louise.[1] He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Monongalia County Historical Society, the West Virginia State Historical Society, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, Kiwanis Club, and the Morgantown Landmarks Commission.[1] He was Catholic and a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Star City.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Rodney Allen Pyles". Fred L. Jenkins Funeral & Cremation Services. April 2026. Archived from the original on April 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Beckleyan Named". Beckley Post-Herald. January 12, 1977. p. 12. Retrieved April 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "A-B Gets New Sociology Prof". The Raleigh Register. August 15, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved April 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Rodney A. Pyles (D - Monongalia, 51)". Wvlegislature.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2019.[dead link]
- ↑ "Pyles touts record as reason voters should send him back to Charleston". Wajr.com. October 19, 2018. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ↑ "Monongalia and Marion counties form blue wall in very red West Virginia". West Virginia MetroNews. November 8, 2018. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022.
- ↑ Croup, Josh (October 5, 2020). "2020 marks last election before House of Delegates undergoes sweeping change". WDTV.
- ↑ "2020 West Virginia House of Delegates District 51 Election Results". Statesman Journal. November 30, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ Hines, Alex (April 9, 2026). "Former Monongalia County Delegate Dies". WBOY. Retrieved April 10, 2026.