Fletcher D. Proctor, Governor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_Dutton_Proctor

Fletcher D. Proctor (November 7, 1860 – September 27, 1911), was an American businessman, a Republican politician, and the 51st Governor of Vermont, serving from 1906 to 1908.

Biography

Proctor was born in Cavendish, Vermont on November 7, 1860. He was raised in Proctor, attended Middlebury College, and graduated from Amherst College in 1882.Proctor was the son of Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor and brother of Governor Redfield Proctor, Jr., as well as the father of Governor Mortimer Proctor. He married Minnie E. Robinson, daughter of Asher C. Robinson, on May 26, 1886, and they had three children, Emily Proctor, Mortimer Proctor, and Minnie Proctor.

Career

Proctor was employed at his family's business, Vermont Marble, becoming President in 1889. He also served as President of the Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad and the Proctor Trust Company.

Proctor enlisted in the Vermont National Guard in 1884 and was promoted to First Lieutenant before resigning in 1887.

Proctor served in several local offices, including town selectman and school board member. A Republican, from 1886 to 1888 he was Secretary of Civil and Military affairs (chief assistant) for Governor Ebenezer J. Ormsbee.

Proctor was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1890 to 1892, and served as Speaker. He served in the Vermont State Senate from 1892 to 1893, and in the Vermont House again from 1904 to 1905.

Elected Governor of Vermont, Proctor served from October 4, 1906 to October 8, 1908. As Governor, rejecting his father's fiscal conservatism, he declared that the state had a "a higher duty than to live cheaply." Proctor advocated progressive forestry policies, reorganized Vermont's courts and reformed the commission that regulated utilities and railroads. After serving as Governor Proctor returned to Vermont Marble.

As Governor, it also fell to Proctor to appoint a temporary replacement to the United States Senate seat left vacant by the death of his father, Redfield Proctor. He named former Governor and Congressman John W. Stewart, who served until a special election could be held to fill the remainder of Redfield Proctor's term.

Death

Proctor died in the town of Proctor on September 27, 1911 after an illness of several weeks. He is interred at South Street Cemetery, Proctor, Rutland County, Vermont.