Lee E. Emerson
Encyclopedia
Lee Earl Emerson was the 69th Governor of Vermont
. He was born in Hardwick, Vermont, on December 19, 1898, and moved to Barton, Vermont, at the age of 16. He graduated from Barton Academy
in 1917, received an A.B. from Syracuse University
in 1921 and a LL.B.
from George Washington University Law School in 1926. He practiced law from the town of Barton.
He was elected as a Republican to the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1939 and served two terms. He was elected Speaker of the House
in his second term, serving from 1941 to 1943. He was elected to the Vermont Senate
in 1943, where he was elected President Pro Tempore. He was Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1945 to 1949.
Throughout much of Vermont history lieutenant governors had served two two-year terms, and would then run for governor. However, the powerful Ernest Gibson was governor and was virtually unchallengeable. Therefore Harold J. Arthur
, a striving fellow conservative, was prevailed upon to run for lieutenant governor. When Arthur unexpectedly became governor in 1950 after Gibson resigned, he loyally stood aside and let Emerson run for governor.
Emerson was elected and served from 1951 to 1955.
As governor, he recommended that Vermont citizens serving in the Korean War
be paid a bonus by the state. He supported studies of the feasibility of building a natural gas pipeline for Vermont and of possible racial discrimination in the state. Also during his administration, legislation known as the Forest Act was passed, providing assistance for municipalities to establish forests.
After leaving the office of governor, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress.
In 1958, he ran unsuccessfully for the nomination for the US Senate against Winston Prouty and four others in a primary that has been described as a Republican free-for-all.
His religious affiliation was Baptist. He died in Berlin, Vermont, on May 26, 1976. He is buried in Barton.
Although his middle name was spelled "Earle" in the town records (birth certificate) and military tombstone (copied from the birth certificate), he always spelled it "Earl."
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
. He was born in Hardwick, Vermont, on December 19, 1898, and moved to Barton, Vermont, at the age of 16. He graduated from Barton Academy
Barton Academy (Vermont)
Barton Academy was a high school in the town of Barton and also served surrounding towns for over a century. The high school was replaced by the Lake Region High School on September 11, 1967. The Academy alumni continue to meet annually. They fund scholarships for graduates of Lake Region...
in 1917, received an A.B. from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1921 and a LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from George Washington University Law School in 1926. He practiced law from the town of Barton.
He was elected as a Republican to the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1939 and served two terms. He was elected Speaker of the House
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature....
in his second term, serving from 1941 to 1943. He was elected to the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
in 1943, where he was elected President Pro Tempore. He was Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1945 to 1949.
Throughout much of Vermont history lieutenant governors had served two two-year terms, and would then run for governor. However, the powerful Ernest Gibson was governor and was virtually unchallengeable. Therefore Harold J. Arthur
Harold J. Arthur
Harold John Arthur was the 68th Governor of Vermont from 1950 to 1951. He also served as the 62nd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1949 to 1950....
, a striving fellow conservative, was prevailed upon to run for lieutenant governor. When Arthur unexpectedly became governor in 1950 after Gibson resigned, he loyally stood aside and let Emerson run for governor.
Emerson was elected and served from 1951 to 1955.
As governor, he recommended that Vermont citizens serving in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
be paid a bonus by the state. He supported studies of the feasibility of building a natural gas pipeline for Vermont and of possible racial discrimination in the state. Also during his administration, legislation known as the Forest Act was passed, providing assistance for municipalities to establish forests.
After leaving the office of governor, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress.
In 1958, he ran unsuccessfully for the nomination for the US Senate against Winston Prouty and four others in a primary that has been described as a Republican free-for-all.
Personal
He married Dorcas M. Ball on August 4, 1927. They had two children, Nancy and Cynthia.His religious affiliation was Baptist. He died in Berlin, Vermont, on May 26, 1976. He is buried in Barton.
Although his middle name was spelled "Earle" in the town records (birth certificate) and military tombstone (copied from the birth certificate), he always spelled it "Earl."