J. Harold Stacey Explained

J. Harold Stacey
Office1:Member of the Vermont Senate from Windsor County
Term Start1:1955
Term End1:1957
Predecessor1:Frank C. Corliss, Susan Drown, Henry D. Vail
Successor1:Guy H. Cleveland, Mark Drown, Olin Gay
Alongside1:Guy H. Cleveland, Lewis E. Springer Jr.
Office2:Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
Term Start2:1949
Term End2:1951
Predecessor2:Winston L. Prouty
Successor2:Wallace M. Fay
Office3:Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Windsor
Term Start3:1943
Term End3:1951
Predecessor3:Harry B. Wilcox
Successor3:Donald B. Hammond
Birth Date:24 February 1898
Birth Place:Tolland, Connecticut, U.S.
Death Place:Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S.
Resting Place:Ascutney Cemetery, Windsor, Vermont, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Ethel (Bonney) Stacey (m. 1919)
Children:3
Education:Dartmouth College (attended)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (attended)
Occupation:Businessman
Branch:United States Navy
Branch Label:Service
Serviceyears:1918–1919
Rank:Ensign
Servicenumber:187-14-16[1]
Unit:United States Naval Aviation
Battles:World War I
Battles Label:Wars

J. Harold Stacey (February 24, 1898 – May 5, 1963) was a Vermont businessman and politician who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Early Life

James Harold Stacey was born in Tolland, Connecticut, on February 24, 1898.[2] He was raised in Royalton, Vermont, and attended Dartmouth College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[3]

Stacey joined the United States Navy for World War I, received a commission as an Ensign, and was trained as a pilot.[4]

In 1919 Stacey settled in Windsor, Vermont, where he operated an ice, building materials and home heating business.[5]

Political career

A Republican, Stacey was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1942 and served four terms, 1943 to 1951. From 1949 to 1951 Stacey was Speaker of the House.[6]

In 1950 Stacey lost the Republican primary for Governor to Lee E. Emerson, who went on to win the general election.[7]

Stacey later served on the state Fish and Game Commission. In 1954 he was elected to the Vermont Senate and served one term, 1955 to 1957.[8] In June 1956, Stacey was appointed to head the Vermont Development Commission.[9]

Public life

Stacey belonged to several fraternal and voluntary organizations including the Freemasonry, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Rotary International, American Legion, and New England Lumberman's association.[10] Within Freemasonry, he served as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, was a 33° Scottish Rite mason, a Past Patron of Ascutney Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, member of the Windsor Commandery, Knights Templar, and Past Potentate of Mt. Sinai Temple, Shriners.

Later life

Stacey died at the hospital in Hanover, New Hampshire on May 5, 1963.[11] He was buried at Ascutney Cemetery in Windsor.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Johnson, Herbert T. . Herbert Thomas Johnson . 1927 . Roster of Vermont Men and Women in the World War . Rutland, VT . The Tuttle Company, Marble City Press . 1594 . . subscription.
  2. http://vermontscottishrite.com/Docs/ProceedingsVTCOD2010.pdf Proceedings of the Vermont Council of Deliberation
  3. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1947, page 480
  4. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1949, page 500
  5. https://books.google.com/books?id=RYlFpV3Mx_gC&pg=PA582 Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Convention of Rotary International
  6. http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/Officials/pdf/speakersHouse.pdf Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives Since 1870
  7. http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/elect/primary/pdf/p1950.pdf 1950 Republican Primary Election results
  8. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1955, page 630
  9. Newspaper article, VDC Reveals Taylor Cut to $1.00 a Month; Chairman Appointed, Harold Stacey of Windsor is Named Head, Bennington Banner, May 5, 1956
  10. News: May 7, 1963 . J. Harold Stacey of Windsor, Former House Speaker, dies . Rutland Daily Herald . 1-2.
  11. Death Notice, J. Harold Stacey, Bennington Banner, May 7, 1956
  12. News: May 9, 1963 . Funerals: J. Harold Stacey . Bennington Banner . 14.