Born in Sacramento, California, Rodda graduated from Sacramento High School in 1929 before receiving an Bachelor of Arts in 1933 and an Master of Arts in 1934, both in history, from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In 1951, Rodda received a Doctor of Philosophy in history and economics from Stanford.
After teaching for several years in Sacramento high schools, Rodda entered the United States Navy Reserve and was a gunnery officer in World World War World War II Leaving the Navy Reserve in 1946, he started teaching at Sacramento City College. He was re-elected six times but was defeated in 1980 in an upset by a newcomer, John Doolittle. Rodda"s best-known legislative legacy is Bachelor of Science 160, enacted in 1975 and taking effect in 1976, which established collective bargaining for California"s public school teachers.
Shortly after Rodda"s departure from the Senate, the California State Treasurer Jesse M. Unruh appointed Rodda as Executive Secretary of the Commission on State Finance.
In 1983, Rodda left the Commission and was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Los Rios Community College District. He left the board in 1992.
In 1980, the Los Rios Community College District Board named a new administrative-classroom complex at Sacramento City College as Rodda Hall.
