Life and Career
Hruska was born in David City, Nebraska. His ancestors were Czech immigrants, and he was proud of his Czech heritage. He was a life long member of Sokol Omaha, American Sokol Organization, celebrating his Czech heritage.
Hruska's family moved to Omaha when he completed junior high school. He graduated from Tech High in North Omaha. He attended the University of Omaha and the University of Chicago and graduated from the Creighton University law school. He settled in Omaha, Nebraska and became a lawyer. He soon entered politics, becoming a member of the Douglas County, Nebraska board of commissioners. He served as a regular member from 1944 to 1945 and as chairman from 1945 to 1952. He was vice-president of the National Association of County Officials from 1951 to 1952, and served for a time as a member of the Nebraska Board of control and the board of regents of the University of Omaha.
Hruska was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the Omaha-dominated second district of Nebraska. He served only one term, as he ran for a United States Senate seat in 1954, which was vacated by the death of Hugh Butler. Hruska won, and was reelected in 1958, 1964 and 1970 and served in the Senate until his retirement in 1976. His opponent in 1958 and 1970 was Frank B. Morrison. Hruska did not run for reelection to a fourth full term.
Hruska became an influential member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. He voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Though Congress was controlled by Democrats for his entire time in the Senate, he was known as a skillful legislator, and was said to have influenced much of the federal criminal justice system's changes during his era. He was the ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee at the time of his retirement.
On October 10, 1978, President Carter signed into law a bill which renamed the Federal Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) located in Clay County, Nebraska after former Senator Roman L. Hruska. The Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse in Omaha is also named in his honor.
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