Oscar Leslie Shepard (March 24, 1894 – November 23, 1980) was a politician and lawyer in Hardwick, Vermont, who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.
Oscar L. Shepard | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Vermont Public Service Commission | |
| In office 1953–1959 | |
| Preceded by | N. Henry Press |
| Succeeded by | Charles R. Ross |
| Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives | |
| In office 1939–1941 | |
| Preceded by | Mortimer R. Proctor |
| Succeeded by | Lee E. Emerson |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Hardwick | |
| In office 1937–1941 | |
| Preceded by | Martin K. Judd |
| Succeeded by | Melvin G. Morse |
| State's Attorney of Caledonia County, Vermont | |
| In office 1925–1933 | |
| Preceded by | Jutten A. Longmoore |
| Succeeded by | Sterry R. Waterman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 24, 1894 Albany, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 1980 (aged 86) Morrisville, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Pleasant View Cemetery, Morrisville, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ethyl Harriet (Wilbur) Shepard (m. 1917) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Lowell Commercial College, Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1919 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Procurement Division, United States Army Ordnance Corps |
| Wars | World War I |
Biography
editOscar Leslie Shepard was born in Albany, Vermont, on March 24, 1894, and was raised in Hardwick.[1][2] Shepard graduated from Hardwick Academy and attended Lowell Commercial College in Lowell, Massachusetts.[3] After his 1914 graduation, Shepard became employed by a Hardwick law firm.[3]
He enlisted in the Army for World War I. Shepard served at the United States Department of War in Procurement Division of the Ordnance Corps from his February, 1918 enlistment until his January, 1919 discharge, and attained the rank of Corporal.[4]
After returning from his military service Shepard studied law with his employer, attained admission to the bar, and became a lawyer in Hardwick. From 1925 to 1933 Shepard served as Caledonia County State's Attorney.[3][5]
Shepard was a Hardwick Village Trustee from 1933 to 1952 and Town Meeting Moderator from 1934 to 1955.[6]
In 1936 Shepard was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives and served two terms. He was Speaker from 1939 to 1941.[7]
In 1940, Shepard was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor, losing the Republican primary to Mortimer R. Proctor.[8][9][10] From 1941 to 1945 he served on the Vermont Banking Board.[11] When Proctor became governor in 1945 he appointed Shepard as his executive assistant.[12]
In the 1950s Shepard served as chairman of the Vermont Public Service Commission.[13][14][15]
Shepard died in Morrisville, Vermont, aged 86, on November 23, 1980, and was buried in Morrisville's Pleasant View Cemetery.[16][17]
References
edit- ^ World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record for Oscar Leslie Shepard, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 3, 2012
- ^ U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 Record for Oscar Leslie Shepard, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 3, 2012
- ^ a b c Crockett, Walter Hill (1923). Vermont: The Green Mountain State. Vol. 5. Century history Company, Incorporated. p. 255.
- ^ Roster of Vermont Men and Women in the World War, published by Herbert T. Johnston, Vermont Adjutant General, 1927, page 1166
- ^ Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1941, page 642
- ^ American legislative leaders in the Northeast, 1911-1994, by James Roger Sharp and Nancy Weatherly Sharp, 2000, page 194
- ^ Newspaper article, Contest for Speaker Stirs Vermont's Political Interest, Christian Science Monitor, November 15, 1938
- ^ Newspaper article, To be Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, by Associated Press, published in Portsmouth Herald, January 8, 1940
- ^ The Star That Set: The Vermont Republican Party, 1854-1974, by Samuel B. Hand, 2003, page 159
- ^ Election results, 1940 Republican Primary, by Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2006, page 1
- ^ Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives Since 1870, by Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2012, page 7
- ^ Vermont Year Book, Formerly Walton's Register, published by E. P. & G. S. Walton (Montpelier), 1945, page 10.
- ^ Newspaper article, Power Allocation Draws Fire From Shortchanged, by Associated Press, published in Bennington Banner, October 25, 1957
- ^ Newspaper article, PSC Official Says Letter Not Improper, by Associated Press, published in Bennington Banner, October 2, 1958
- ^ Newspaper article, Partial Rate Hike Allowed Phone Company, by Associated Press, published in Bennington Banner, January 11, 1960
- ^ Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for Oscar L. Shepard, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 3, 2012
- ^ Social Security Death Index, entry for Oscar L. Shepard, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 3, 2012