May 23, 1986 - married 2nd wife Nancy Kavaney in Kankakee.

1995-1996 - state president of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks

1997-1998. - Chief Justice of Grand Forum of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks

2008 - 50 years practicing law.

2008 December - He was a recipient of the Judge Duane O'Connor Leadership Award.

2003 and 2016 -  recipient of the Illinois Bar Association John C. McAndrew's Pro Bono Service Award - Illinois Volunteer Attorney of the Year through Prairie State Legal Services.

1932 - He was born Sept. 17, 1932, in Joliet, the son of Edwin A. and Florence Warning Benson.

1950 - He was a 1950 graduate of Rockford High School.

1954 - Roger earned a BBA from Northwestern University in 1954.

1954 - Married 1st  wife Marlene Kangas, also a graduate of Rockford High School.

1954-1968 - served as vice president of Security Lumber and Supply Co. Inc. in Bradley, a company which his  late father, Edwin A. Benson founded.

1957 - 1st son, Edwin Albert Benson II was born.

1958 - 2nd child, Edith Benson Beaver, was born in January of 1958.

1958 - Earned a JD from DePaul University in 1958. 

1958 - October 1958, he was admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois

1959-1968 -  practiced law in Kankakee. 

1960 - 3rd child, Lisa Benson Toulon, was born.

1965 - 4th child, David Alan Benson, was born.

1968-1992 - He was appointed and served as Associate Circuit Court Judge of Kankakee County.

1962-1963 -- President, East Seal Society of Kankakee County

1988-1996 -- Board member, Kankakee County Victim's Assistance Center

2003 and 2016 --  Illinois State Bar Association's John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award in the outstanding individual attorney category (Volunteer of the Year, Prairie State Legal Services)

2004 -- Founder, John Locke Memorial Scholarship Trust (a charitable organization providing college scholarships for local high school students.)

Current board member and executive committee secretary of the charitable Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley.

1954-1958 -- Vice president of Security Lumber and Supply Co., Inc.

1959-1962 -- Assistant states attorney; Kankakee County

1962-1964 -- Justice of the peace; Kankakee County

1962-1968 -- Private practice of law; Kankakee County

1964-1965 -- Chief magistrate; Kankakee County

1965-1968 -- Assistant public defender; Kankakee County

1968-1992 -- Associate circuit court judge, Kankakee County

2003-2005 -- Adjunct professor, Olivet Nazarene University in business law, negotiation and conflict resolution.