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Military Service: Army

War(s) Served:  World War II

RICHARD A. SNELLING was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor's degree in government and economics from Harvard University in 1948. He was in the U.S. Army Infantry in Europe from 1945 to 1946. He founded Shelburne Industries, Inc., and chaired several companies. His business affiliations include the Young Presidents' Association, the Chief Executives Organization, and the World Business Council. He was director of Ski Industries of America and Associated Industries of Vermont and was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. He served six terms in the legislature, where he was the majority leader from 1975 to 1976. He also served on the Governor's Commission on the Environment, and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, and chaired the Vermont Aeronautics Board. He was first elected as Governor of Vermont in 1976 and served four consecutive terms. He was appointed to the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations by President Jimmy Carter and was reappointed by President Ronald Reagan. He chaired the National Governors Association (1981-1982), the New England Governors' Conference, and the Republican Governors Association. Snelling won an unprecedented fifth term as governor in 1990 but died suddenly eight months after taking office.

Sources:

Who's Who in America, Vol. X. New Providence, NJ: Marquis' Who's Who.

Governors of the American States, Commonwealths and Territories, National Governors Association, 1991.

Vermont Public Radio

List of Vermont Governors

Vermont Primary and General Election Results

Gubernatorial Inaugural and Farewell Addresses

Gubernatorial Vetoes