Richard Snelling | |
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76th and 78th Governor of Vermont | |
In office January 10, 1991 – August 13, 1991 | |
Lieutenant | Howard Dean |
Preceded by | Madeleine Kunin |
Succeeded by | Howard Dean |
In office January 6, 1977 – January 10, 1985 | |
Lieutenant | Garry Buckley Madeleine Kunin Peter Smith |
Preceded by | Thomas P. Salmon |
Succeeded by | Madeleine Kunin |
Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office August 11, 1981 – August 10, 1982 | |
Preceded by | George Busbee |
Succeeded by | Scott M. Matheson |
Majority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives | |
In office 1975–1977 | |
Preceded by | Giles Dewey |
Succeeded by | Jim Douglas |
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives | |
In office 1973–1977 Serving with Howard Lunderville (1973–1975) David Curtis (1975–1977) | |
Preceded by | Mary Thurber |
Succeeded by | Gretchen B. Morse Sallie Soule |
Constituency | 30th district (1973–1975) 7th Chittenden (1975–1977) |
In office 1959–1961 | |
Preceded by | Derick V. Webb |
Succeeded by | Eustace Thomas |
Constituency | Shelburne, Vermont, U.S. |
Personal details | |
Born | Richard Arkwright Snelling February 18, 1927 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | August 13, 1991 Shelburne, Vermont, U.S. | (aged 64)
Resting place | Shelburne Village Cemetery, Shelburne, Vermont, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | |
Relations | Alice Lee Moqué (grandmother) Charles W. Hornor (great-grandfather) |
Children | 4, including Diane |
Parent(s) | Walter O. Snelling Helen Marjorie Gehrig |
Education | Harvard University (BA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | US Army |
Years of service | 1945–1946 |
Rank | Technician fifth grade |
Battles/wars | World War II Occupation of Germany |
Richard Arkwright Snelling (February 18, 1927 – August 13, 1991) was an American businessman, politician, and the 76th and 78th governor of Vermont from 1977 to 1985 and from January 10, 1991, until his death.
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Snelling was educated in Allentown and served in the United States Army at the end of World War II and during the post-war occupation of Germany. He graduated from Harvard University in 1948 and embarked on a business career, working for companies in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. After settling in Vermont, he founded Shelburne Industries, a maker of ski racks and other ski equipment. He became active in politics as a Republican, served a term in the Vermont House of Representatives (1959–1961), and ran unsuccessfully for Vermont Senate in 1956, lieutenant governor in 1964, and governor in 1966. In 1972, Snelling was again elected to the Vermont House. He was reelected in 1974, and served from 1973 to 1977. In his second term, Snelling was chosen to serve as majority leader.
In 1976, Snelling was the successful Republican nominee for governor. He was re-elected three times, and served from 1977 to 1985. In 1986, Snelling was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for the United States Senate, and was defeated by incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy. In 1990, he was the successful Republican nominee for governor. He was inaugurated in January 1991, and served until his death. Snelling's family was prominent in Vermont politics; his wife Barbara served as lieutenant governor and a member of the state senate. His daughter Diane succeeded her mother as a state senator. His son Mark was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010.