Richard Bernard Vail (August 31, 1895 – July 29, 1955) was an American businessman and U.S. Representative from Illinois.[1][2][3]

Richard B. Vail
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953
Preceded byBarratt O'Hara
Succeeded byBarratt O'Hara
In office
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949
Preceded byWilliam A. Rowan
Succeeded byBarratt O'Hara
Personal details
Born
Richard Bernard Vail

(1895-08-31)August 31, 1895
Chicago, Illinois
DiedJuly 29, 1955(1955-07-29) (aged 59)
Chicago, Illinois
Resting placeHoly Sepulchre Cemetery
41°41′21″N 87°46′14″W / 41.689228°N 87.7706°W / 41.689228; -87.7706
Political partyRepublican
Alma materJohn Marshall Law School

Background

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Richard B. Vail was born on August 31, 1895, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended public school, the School of Commerce, the Chicago Technical College, and the John Marshall Law School.[1][2]

Career

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During World War I, he served in the United States Army as a lieutenant of infantry. He then engaged in the manufacture of steel products.[1][2]

Federal service

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Vail worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before running for office.[4][5]

Vail was elected as a Republican to the Eightieth Congress (January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949). He served on the House Un-American Activities Committee.[1][2]

He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1948 to the Eighty-first Congress. Vail was elected to the Eighty-second Congress (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1952 to the Eighty-third Congress and for election in 1954 to the Eighty-fourth Congress.[1][2]

Private sector

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He served as chairman of the board of directors of the Vail Manufacturing Company of Chicago. Vail manufactured staplers, paper clips, and fasteners and was eventually acquired by Acco International in 1966.[1][2][6]

Personal and death

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Vail's grave at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

Vail died age 59 on July 29, 1955, in Chicago and was interred in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.[1][2]

See also

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References

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Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Vail, Richard Bernard (1895–1955)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Vail, Richard B." Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Rep. Richard Vail". GovTrack. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Andrews, Bert; Andrews, Peter (1962). A Tragedy of History: A Journalist's Confidential Role in the Hiss-Chambers Case. R. B. Luce. p. 10. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Labor Fact Book, Volume 12. International Publishers. 1955. p. 133. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  6. ^ "Acco Plans Expansion" (PDF). Watertown Daily News. Watertown, New York. January 4, 1966. p. s. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
General
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd congressional district

1947–1949
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 2nd congressional district

1951–1953
Succeeded by