Graham S. Newell
Encyclopedia
Graham Stiles Newell (1915–2008 ) was a Republican
member of the Vermont State Senate
, who represented Caledonia County
in the Vermont Senate
. He had also been elected to the Vermont House, and was an educator.
on November 27, 1915. After graduating St. Johnsbury Academy
in 1933, he went on to study at Middlebury College
and the University of Chicago
where he earned a bachelor of arts
degree in 1938. He received an master of arts
degree in Latin in 1949 from Chicago, and did further postgraduate studies in medieval Latin.
for a total of eight consecutive terms In 1980, he retired from public life.
Governor Deane Davis appointed him to the Little Hoover Commission
which reorganized the state government into agencies that largely still existed in 2008.
President John F. Kennedy
appointed him to the National Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
He was a founding member of the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union
. He opposed the busing of Vermont parochial school children during his legislative years.
from 1947-8. He taught at St. Johnsbury Junior High School 1957-8.
In 1959 he was appointed chairman of the social science department at Lyndon State College
, a position he held until he retired as professor emeritus in 1979. He continued to teach there part time until 1996.
He served on the New England
Board of Higher Education from 1959 to 1965.
He resumed teaching Latin at St. Johnsbury Academy in 1982 until his death. He was preparing for his next classes until three days before he died.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Vermont State Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
, who represented Caledonia County
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
in the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
. He had also been elected to the Vermont House, and was an educator.
Early life
Newell was born in St. Johnsbury, VermontSt. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
on November 27, 1915. After graduating St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA, enrolling students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1842 by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and accepts the majority of its students through one of the nation's oldest...
in 1933, he went on to study at Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
where he earned a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1938. He received an master of arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Latin in 1949 from Chicago, and did further postgraduate studies in medieval Latin.
Public life
Newell was first elected to the Vermont House in 1952 where he served four non-consecutive terms. He was elected to the Vermont SenateVermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
for a total of eight consecutive terms In 1980, he retired from public life.
Governor Deane Davis appointed him to the Little Hoover Commission
Hoover Commission
The Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the Federal Government of the United States...
which reorganized the state government into agencies that largely still existed in 2008.
President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
appointed him to the National Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
He was a founding member of the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
. He opposed the busing of Vermont parochial school children during his legislative years.
Career
He taught Latin and other humanities classes at St. Johnsbury Academy from 1938 to 1947. He taught at the Hatch Preparatory School, Dexter, MaineDexter, Maine
Dexter is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,890 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bangor, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
from 1947-8. He taught at St. Johnsbury Junior High School 1957-8.
In 1959 he was appointed chairman of the social science department at Lyndon State College
Lyndon State College
Lyndon State College is a public liberal arts college located at Lyndon Center in Lyndon, Caledonia County in the U.S. state of Vermont. In addition to a range of Bachelor's Degree programs, the college offers a Master's Degree program in Education...
, a position he held until he retired as professor emeritus in 1979. He continued to teach there part time until 1996.
He served on the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
Board of Higher Education from 1959 to 1965.
He resumed teaching Latin at St. Johnsbury Academy in 1982 until his death. He was preparing for his next classes until three days before he died.
Other positions
- Elected delegate to Republican National ConventionRepublican National ConventionThe Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
19561956 Republican National ConventionThe 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and former speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. served as...
and 19641964 Republican National ConventionThe 1964 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States took place in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, on July 13 to July 16, 1964. Before 1964, there had only been one national Republican convention on the West Coast... - President, Vermont Historical Society
Awards
- Vermont Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerceA chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
Citizens of the Year 2005 - Victor R. Swenson Humanitites Educator Award 2003, the first awarded, from the Vermont Humanities Council
- Inducted into Vermont Academy or Arts and Sciences, 2005
- Honorary Doctor of Humane LettersDoctor of Humane LettersThe degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
, University of VermontUniversity of VermontThe University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
2006
Commemorative Measures
Newell's life has been commemorated in the following ways:- Newell's likeness was painted in a Mural on the back wall of The Star Theatre in St. Johnsbury.
- St. Johnsbury AcademySt. Johnsbury AcademySt. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA, enrolling students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1842 by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and accepts the majority of its students through one of the nation's oldest...
honors Newell's commitment to learning with the Graham Newell Education Grant. - Newell Hall at St. Johnsbury AcademySt. Johnsbury AcademySt. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA, enrolling students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1842 by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and accepts the majority of its students through one of the nation's oldest...
was named in Newell's honor.
External links
- Vermont Encyclopedia retrieved July 5, 2008
- VFC Radio retrieved July 5, 2008
- Obituary - Caledonian Record retrieved May 31, 2010