Harold John Arthur | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 68th Governor of Vermont | |
| In office January 16, 1950 – January 4, 1951 | |
| Lieutenant | Joseph B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Ernest W. Gibson Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Lee E. Emerson |
| 64th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office 1949–1950 | |
| Governor | Ernest W. Gibson Jr. |
| Preceded by | Lee E. Emerson |
| Succeeded by | Joseph B. Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 9, 1904 |
| Died | July 19, 1971(1971-07-19) (aged 67) |
| Resting place | Lakeview Cemetery,Burlington, Vermont, US |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary C. Alafat |
| Education | Albany Business College La Salle Extension University |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1928–1959 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Vermont Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Harold John Arthur (February 9, 1904 – July 19, 1971) was the68th governor of Vermont from 1950 to 1951.[1] He also served as the64thlieutenant governor of Vermont from 1949 to 1950.
Arthur was born inWhitehall, New York, on February 9, 1904, and raised inAddison County andRutland County, Vermont. He graduated fromAlbany Business College and worked for theBrandon National Bank and in other businesses before settling inBurlington.[2] He was married to Mary C. (Alafat) Arthur, with whom he practiced law. They were the parents of a daughter, Portia.[3]
From 1927 to 1929, Arthur worked as an assistant to GovernorJohn E. Weeks. From 1928 to 1940 he was associated withWarren R. Austin, working as a clerk and stenographer and then studying law in Austin's office. He obtained alaw degree fromLa Salle Extension University, and then became an attorney in Burlington.[4]
Arthur also worked for theVermont House of Representatives for more than twenty years, rising to the position of chief clerk and parliamentarian, where he served from 1939 to 1949.[5] He was Clerk of the House from 1939 to 1943, and again from 1947 to 1949; during hisWorld War II military service, the position was held byClifton G. Parker.[6]
A member of theVermont National Guard beginning in 1928, Arthur served inWorld War II and attained the rank oflieutenant colonel as aJudge Advocate General before retiring in 1959.[7][8]
Arthur was the successfulRepublican candidate for lieutenant governor in 1948, and served from 1949 to 1950.[9][10][11]
Arthur became governor whenErnest W. Gibson Jr. resigned to become afederal judge. He did not seek election to a full term in 1950, running unsuccessfully for theUnited States House of Representatives and losing theRepublican primary toWinston L. Prouty, whom Arthur had defeated for the lieutenant governor nomination in 1948.[12][13][14]
In 1954, Arthur ran unsuccessfully to be the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, losing the primary toConsuelo N. Bailey.[15] Governor Arthur ran again for Congress in 1958, winning the Republican nomination and losing the general election toWilliam H. Meyer, who became the firstDemocratic candidate to win a statewide or national office in Vermont since the founding of the Republican Party in the 1850s.[16][17]
Arthur died of cancer atPlattsburgh Air Force Base Hospital on July 19, 1971.[18] He was a Unitarian,[19] and is interred in a mausoleum at Burlington'sLakeview Cemetery.[20]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Vermont 1948 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Vermont 1949—1950 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Vermont 1950–1951 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
