Roswell M. Austin

Austin as First Assistant Clerk of the Vermont House, 1919

Roswell M. Austin (September 23, 1887 – February 1, 1966) was a Vermont politician and attorney who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives. He was the brother of United States Senator Warren Austin.[1]

Biography

Roswell Mears Austin was born in Highgate, Vermont on September 23, 1887. He graduated from Yale University, studied law and began a practice in St. Albans.[2][3]

A Republican, Austin was Assistant Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1915 to 1920 and Clerk from 1921 to 1925.[4]

In 1924 Austin was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. He served one term, 1925 to 1927, and was Speaker of the House.[5]

Austin later became involved in several businesses, and was a longtime executive of the American Granite Association.[6][7]

Roswell Austin was also active in the Army Reserve, and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[8]

In the 1940s and 1950s Austin was a member of the U.S. Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and he served as the board's President. As a result of this service, he was involved in the investigation of President Dwight Eisenhower's Chief of Staff, Sherman Adams when Adams was accused of using his influence on behalf of favored contractors in exchange for gifts.[9][10][11]

Austin died in New Bern, North Carolina on February 1, 1966.[12][13] He was cremated in Durham, North Carolina.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Newspaper article, Senator Austin's Mother Dies, New York Times, June 13, 1941
  2. ↑ Vermont, Its Government, by Walter J. Bigelow, 1919, page 138
  3. ↑ WWI Civilian Draft Registrations, entry for Roswell Mears Austin, accessed via Ancestry.com, February 19, 2012
  4. ↑ American Legislative Leaders in the Northeast, 1911-1994, by James Roger Sharp and Nancy Weatherly Sharp, 2000, page 2000
  5. ↑ List of Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives, published by Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2012
  6. ↑ U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, record for Roswell Mears Austin, accessed via Ancestry.com, February 19, 2012
  7. ↑ American Stone Trade magazine, published by American Stone Trade Association, Volume 30, 1929, page 54
  8. ↑ Federal Bar Association Journal, published by the association, Volume 5, 1943, page 78
  9. ↑ Newspaper article, New Charges on Adams are Weighed, by Associated Press, published in Bennington Banner, July 21, 1958
  10. ↑ Newspaper article, Weeks Hits 'Whipping' of Adams, by United Press International, published in Morgantown Dominion-News, July 22, 1958
  11. ↑ Newspaper article, Probers Start Testimony on Adams' Role, by United Press International, published in Portsmouth Herald, July 22, 1958
  12. ↑ North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975, entry for Roswell Mears Austin, accessed via Ancestry.com, February 19, 2012
  13. ↑ Social Security Death Index, entry for Roswell Austin, accessed via Ancestry.com, February 19, 2012
  14. ↑ North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1975, entry for Roswell Mears Austin, retrieved November 24, 2014
Political offices
Preceded by
Orlando L. Martin		 Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1925–1927 		Succeeded by
Loren R. Pierce
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