Governor George Prouty

GEORGE PROUTY was born in Newport, Vermont. After graduating from Bryant and Stratton Business College, he entered his father’s lumber business-one of the largest lumber firms in northern New England. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Boston and Maine Railroad, the Orleans Trust Company, and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1896 and the Vermont Senate in 1904, and served as Lieutenant Governor before winning the gubernatorial race. As governor, Prouty favored employers’ liability law. During his administration, the state legislature adopted his suggestion to put the Railroad Commission under a Public Service Commission designed to supervise all public service corporations. In addition, a state board of education and a state library commission were founded. Prouty returned to his business activities after leaving office, and was killed at the age of fifty-six when a car in which he was riding was struck by a train.