Vesta M. Roy
Encyclopedia
Vesta M. Roy was a Republican
New Hampshire
politician, born in Dearborn
, Michigan
.
As president of the state Senate
, she served as acting governor
of New Hampshire from December 29, 1982 until January 6, 1983 as a result of the death of Governor Hugh Gallen
shortly before the inauguration of the governor-elect, John H. Sununu
. Roy served as a state senator from 1978 until 1986. As acting governor, she was the first Republican woman governor in the history of the United States
as well as New Hampshire's first female governor. She was also the first female governor to come to office by succession rather than by election. She served as an advisor to the New Hampshire campaigns of Republican presidential candidates Gerald Ford
, Ronald Reagan
, and George H.W. Bush.
She died at her home in Kenmore
, New York
, at the age of 76 and was buried at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in East Chelmsford, Massachusetts
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
politician, born in Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
As president of the state Senate
New Hampshire General Court
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire Senate with 24 members...
, she served as acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
of New Hampshire from December 29, 1982 until January 6, 1983 as a result of the death of Governor Hugh Gallen
Hugh Gallen
Hugh J. Gallen was an American automobile dealer and Democratic politician from Littleton, New Hampshire. After serving in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, he won two terms as Governor....
shortly before the inauguration of the governor-elect, John H. Sununu
John H. Sununu
John Henry Sununu is a former Governor of New Hampshire and former White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush. He is the father of John E. Sununu, a former senator from New Hampshire, and formerly a U.S. Representative...
. Roy served as a state senator from 1978 until 1986. As acting governor, she was the first Republican woman governor in the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as New Hampshire's first female governor. She was also the first female governor to come to office by succession rather than by election. She served as an advisor to the New Hampshire campaigns of Republican presidential candidates Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, and George H.W. Bush.
She died at her home in Kenmore
Kenmore, New York
Village of Kenmore is a village in Erie County, New York, in the United States. The population was 16,426 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, at the age of 76 and was buried at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in East Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.