Walter L. Kennedy

Walter L. Kennedy (May 10, 1920 – January 22, 1997) was a Vermont automobile dealer and politician who served two terms as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Walter L. Kennedy
Kennedy in 1974
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1971–1975
Preceded by	John S. Burgess
Succeeded by	Timothy J. O'Connor
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1961–1975
Preceded by	F. Ray Keyser Jr. (from Chelsea)
Succeeded by	John Howe (from Orange-1 District)
Constituency	35th District
Personal details
Born	(1920-05-10)May 10, 1920 Chelsea, Vermont
Died	January 22, 1997(1997-01-22) (aged 76) Sarasota, Florida
Resting place	Riverside Cemetery, Chelsea, Vermont
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Phyllis Playful (m. 1943-1973, div.) Sylvia R. LeFevre (m. 1974-1997, his death)
Children	2
Occupation	Automobile dealer

Biography

Walter Lawrence "Peanut" Kennedy was born in Chelsea, Vermont, on May 10, 1920. He graduated from Chelsea High School and worked at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut. He served with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, attaining the rank of Corporal, and afterwards returning to Chelsea.^[1][2]

Kennedy managed the Chelsea Co-Op Grocery and worked for American Home Foods until 1952, when he went into business as a car dealer. He soon became owner and operator of a Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep dealership, which became one of the largest car dealerships in Vermont.^[3]

A Republican, Kennedy was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1960. He served seven terms, 1961 to 1975, and was Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1975.^[4]

In 1974, Kennedy was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor, losing to incumbent Thomas P. Salmon.^[5]

After losing the race for governor, Kennedy served as Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party from 1975 to 1976, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont House in 1976.^[6]

In retirement, Kennedy resided in Florida. He died in Sarasota on January 22, 1997.^{[7][8][9][10]}

References

1. Obituary, Walter L. Kennedy^[usurped], The World (Barre, VT) newspaper, January 28, 1997
2. American Legislative Leaders in the Northeast, 1911-1994, James Roger Sharp and Nancy Weatherly Sharp, 2000, page 137
3. Automotive News, Crain Automotive Group, 1972, page 33
4. Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives since 1870, Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2009, page 9
5. General Election results for Vermont Governor, 1789-2008, Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2009, page 37
6. Newspaper article, Walter Kennedy, Colorful Vermont politician, by Associated Press, The Day (New London, CT), January 24, 1997
7. Death notice, Walter Kennedy, former Vermont House Speaker, Bangor Daily News, January 24, 1997
8. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998, entry for Walter L. Kennedy, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 28, 2012
9. Social Security Death Index, entry for Walter L. Kennedy, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 28, 2012
10. Obituary, Walter L. Kennedy, Sarasota Herald Tribune, January 22, 1997

Party political offices
Preceded by Luther Hackett	Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont 1974	Succeeded by Richard A. Snelling
Political offices
Preceded by John S. Burgess	Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives 1971 – 1975	Succeeded by Timothy J. O'Connor, Jr.