John S. Burgess
John S. Burgess (May 10, 1920 – September 20, 2007) was a Vermont attorney and politician who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and Lieutenant Governor.
Biography
John Stuart "Jack" Burgess was born in New York City on May 10, 1920. He was a bomber navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, served on active duty again during the Korean War, and attained the rank of Major in the Air Force Reserve.[1][2]
Burgess graduated from the University of Vermont, received a law degree from Northeastern University in 1949, and became a lawyer in Brattleboro.[3] He served as Windham County State's Attorney from 1952 to 1957. He also served in numerous local government positions in Brattleboro, including Town Agent, Town Attorney and Justice of the Peace.[4]
A Republican, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1966 and was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee before serving as Speaker.[5][6]
In 1970 Burgess was the successful Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor and served two terms, 1971 to 1975.[7] He lost the 1974 Republican primary for Vermont's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to Jim Jeffords.[8][9]
After leaving office Burgess continued to practice law and maintained his participation in Brattleboro's local government and civic activities. He died in Keene, New Hampshire on September 20, 2007 and was buried in Brattleboro's Meeting House Hill Cemetery.[10]
External References
- Oral History: Jack Burgess, WWII Vet, sponsored by Brattleboro Rotary Club, accessed December 25, 2011
- John Stuart Burgess page, Find A Grave web site, accessed December 25, 2011
Sources
- ↑ Newspaper article, Jack Burgess, Former Vermont Lawmaker, Lieutenant Governor, Dies at 87, South Coast Today, September 25, 2007
- ↑ American Legislative Leaders in the Northeast, 1911-1994, by James Roger Sharp and Nancy Weatherly Sharp, 2000, page 66
- ↑ In Memoriam, Northeastern University Alumni Magazine, Winter 2008/2009
- ↑ House Concurrent Resolution 23, by Vermont House of Representatives, 2007-2008 session
- ↑ Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives, 1870 to present, published by Vermont Secretary of State, accessed December 25, 2011, page 9
- ↑ Newspaper article, Burgess to Seek No. 2 GOP Spot, by United Press International, Bennington Banner, March 25, 1970
- ↑ Lieutenant Governors, Terms of Service, Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, accessed December 25, 2011, page 2
- ↑ Newspaper article, Primary Results for U.S. House, Bennington Banner, September 11, 1974
- ↑ An Independent Man: Adventures of a Public servant, by James M. Jeffords, Yvonne Daley and Howard Coffin, 2003, pages 134 to 137
- ↑ John Burgess, 87, former Vt. Official, by Associated Press, Boston.com web site, September 25, 2007
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard W. Mallary |
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives 1969–1971 |
Succeeded by Walter L. Kennedy |
| Preceded by John J. Daley |
Lieutenant Governor of Vermont 1971–1975 |
Succeeded by Brian D. Burns |