John Roger Bissett

John Roger "Roger" Bissett was a longtime Nevada attorney whose career spanned the courtrooms and public life of Washoe County. Born March 23, 1928, in Los Angeles, California, he built his practice in Reno and remained a member of the Washoe County and Nevada State Bar. He was admitted to practice before all Nevada state and local courts, the Federal District Court for Nevada, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Beyond private practice, Bissett gave substantial service to his profession and community. In 1963 he served as President of the Washoe County Bar Association. He also devoted years to public office in the Nevada Legislature, serving as an Assemblyman and then as a State Senator from 1959 to 1966 - and was noted as the last solo State Senator from Washoe County before reapportionment created multiple-district Senate representation in Nevada.

Remembered as an advocate, philanthropist, athlete, mentor, and friend, Roger Bissett died January 5, 2016, at the age of 87. His life reflected a lasting commitment to the law, to public service, and to the people of northern Nevada.