Vermont Governor. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served as private secretary to former Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor when Proctor was US Secretary of War. Smith was active in banking and insurance, and in 1920 he became President of Marble Savings Bank. A Republican, he served in the Vermont Senate from 1927 to 1929. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1931 to 1933, and was Ways and Means Committee Chairman. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1933 to 1935, and Governor from 1935 to 1937. In May 1932 he learned that his bank's bookeeper had embezzled $251,000. Smith let him leave quietly, kept the theft secret, and charged the loss against the bank's surplus. In July 1935 the bookkeeper was named Rutland's Assistant City Treasurer and planned a candidacy for Treasurer. To prevent this, his opponents leaked word of the theft to the press. In December 1935 Smith and other bank officials were charged with failing to inform account holders and authorities. The bookkeeper was convicted and jailed, and the bank Treasurer received a suspended sentence and a $400 fine. Charges against Smith and other parties were dismissed. Smith became ill in June, 1937 and died just eight months after leaving office.
Vermont Governor. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served as private secretary to former Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor when Proctor was US Secretary of War. Smith was active in banking and insurance, and in 1920 he became President of Marble Savings Bank. A Republican, he served in the Vermont Senate from 1927 to 1929. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1931 to 1933, and was Ways and Means Committee Chairman. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1933 to 1935, and Governor from 1935 to 1937. In May 1932 he learned that his bank's bookeeper had embezzled $251,000. Smith let him leave quietly, kept the theft secret, and charged the loss against the bank's surplus. In July 1935 the bookkeeper was named Rutland's Assistant City Treasurer and planned a candidacy for Treasurer. To prevent this, his opponents leaked word of the theft to the press. In December 1935 Smith and other bank officials were charged with failing to inform account holders and authorities. The bookkeeper was convicted and jailed, and the bank Treasurer received a suspended sentence and a $400 fine. Charges against Smith and other parties were dismissed. Smith became ill in June, 1937 and died just eight months after leaving office.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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