Zinke Honors Montana World War II Home Front Pioneer Donna Roberts in Congressional Record

Washington, D.C. - Each month of 2026, the 250^th year after the signing of the declaration of independence, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke will join the rest of the Montana delegation and the Montana 250th Commission in honoring individuals who have made their mark as extraordinary Montanans. This January, Congressman Zinke is recognizing Donna Stageman Roberts of Swan Lake, Montana, in the Congressional Record for her role on the World War II home front and her lifelong contributions to Montana's communities.

Donna Roberts recently celebrated her 100th birthday and is the only Montanan to have played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, a professional league formed during World War II to sustain America's pastime while Major League Baseball players served overseas. Her story reflects the resilience, adaptability, and service that defined the American home front during a time of global conflict.

Read Congressman Zinke's Congressional Record submission below:

Mr. Speaker, as our Nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, I rise to recognize a remarkable Montanan whose life story reflects both the resilience of this Nation during World War II and the enduring spirit of service that defines the Treasure State.

Today I honor Donna Stageman Roberts, born January 1, 1926, in Randolph, Nebraska, and now a resident of Swan Lake, Montana. On New Year's Day, Donna celebrated her 100th birthday, a milestone befitting a life that spans a century of change and achievement.

Donna's life is interwoven with one of the most extraordinary chapters in American sports history and our home front effort during World War II. In 1946, at the age of 20 and living in Billings, she read about tryouts for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, a professional league created in 1943 to sustain America's pastime while many major league players served overseas during the war.

After submitting her application and being selected from hundreds of hopefuls, Donna earned a contract with the Peoria Redwings, joining their inaugural 1946 season as a shortstop and outfielder. During that era, these teams kept baseball alive in communities across the Midwest, giving Americans a source of normalcy and pride as so many families worried about loved ones on distant battlefields. While her professional career with Peoria was brief, the experience marked a rare and historic contribution to both the sport and the wartime cultural landscape of the United States.

Upon returning to Montana, Donna invested her earnings in her education at Eastern Montana College, later dedicating 35 years as an elementary school teacher in Helena, shaping generations of young Montanans. She and her late husband raised two children, and she remained an active and cherished member of her community for decades.

Donna's story connects Montana to a pivotal moment in American history, when the home front adapted to global conflict and extraordinary opportunities emerged from national necessity. Her journey from the sandlots of Billings to the professional diamonds of the Midwest and back again exemplifies Montana's contribution to the broader American story.

On this 250th anniversary of our Nation, we honor Donna Roberts for her athletic achievement and longevity and for embodying the character of service and community that has sustained this country through war and peace.

I congratulate Donna Roberts on her 100th birthday and thank her for a life of remarkable dedication and enduring impact on Montana and the Nation.

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