Ralph Albert Foote (January 22, 1923 – July 16, 2003) was an American attorney who served as the 69th lieutenant governor of Vermont from 1961 to 1965, and a prominent attorney practicing in Middlebury, Vermont.
Ralph A. Foote | |
|---|---|
 Foote in 1964 | |
| 69th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office January 5, 1961 – January 6, 1965 | |
| Governor | F. Ray Keyser, Jr. Philip H. Hoff |
| Preceded by | Robert S. Babcock |
| Succeeded by | John J. Daley |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Middlebury | |
| In office January 9, 1957 – January 4, 1961 | |
| Preceded by | Chester A. Ingalls |
| Succeeded by | Stanton S. Lazarus |
| State's Attorney of Addison County, Vermont | |
| In office January 23, 1950 – August 9, 1950 | |
| Preceded by | John A. Calhoun |
| Succeeded by | William S. Burrage |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 22, 1923 Proctor, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 2003 (aged 80) Middlebury, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery, West Cornwall, Vermont |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Dickey Foote |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Amherst College Albany Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Marine Corps Marine Corps Reserve |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 (Marine Corps) 1946–1950 (Reserve) 1950–1952 (Marine Corps) 1952– 1963 (Reserve) |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
Early life
editFoote was born in Proctor, Vermont, on January 22, 1923. He was the grandson of Lieutenant Governor Abram W. Foote.[1]
Foote graduated from Amherst College in 1943 and served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, including combat at the Battle of Okinawa.[2][3] He graduated from Albany Law School in 1949 and became an attorney in Middlebury. He returned to active duty with the Marines during the Korean War.[4]
Career
editA Republican, Foote served as Deputy State's Attorney of Addison County and interim state's attorney. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican state's attorney nomination in 1950. Foote ran successfully for the Vermont House of Representatives in 1956 and served two terms, also serving as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.[5][6]
Elected Lieutenant Governor in 1960, he served under Republican F. Ray Keyser Jr. When Keyser lost the governorship to Philip H. Hoff in 1962, Foote won re-election. In 1964 Foote challenged Hoff, but lost badly in what turned into a wave election for Democrats nationwide.[7][8][9]
Foote spent the rest of his career at the law firm of Conley and Foote in Middlebury. He also served as president of the Addison County and Vermont Bar Associations, was chairman of the Vermont Judicial Conduct Board, and chaired the Middlebury and Addison County Republican Committees.[10]
Personal life
editHe was married for more than 50 years to Nancy Dickey Foote. They had five sons—Brian, Peter, Cory, Richard, and Anthony.[11]
Death
editHe died in Middlebury on July 16, 2003. He was cremated, and his remains were interred at Evergreen Cemetery in West Cornwall, Vermont.[12] His wife Nancy died on May 10, 2014.
References
edit- ^ Vermont Bar Association, The Vermont Bar Journal, Volume 28, 2003, page 54
- ^ Probate Counsel, Inc., The Probate Counsel directory, 1966, page 978
- ^ Vermont General Assembly, House Concurrent Resolution 249, 2004
- ^ Orwell Historical Society, A History of the Town of Orwell, Vermont, 2001, page 193
- ^ Middlebury College, "The Campus" newspaper, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont Will Speak in Proctor on Monday, October 3, 1963
- ^ Vermont Bar Association, The Vermont Bar Journal, Volume 28, 2003, page 54
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, Britannica Book of the Year 1960, 1961, page 734
- ^ Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, Collier's Encyclopedia Year Book, 1962, page 702
- ^ Samuel B. Hand, The Star That Set: The Vermont Republican Party, 1854-1974, 2003, pages 249-250
- ^ Vermont Bar Association, The Vermont Bar Journal, Volume 28, 2003, page 54
- ^ Vermont General Assembly, House Concurrent Resolution 249, 2004
- ^ Sanderson Funeral Service, Obituary, Nancy D. Foote, May 10, 2014