George H. Amidon

George H. Amidon (July 12, 1904 – November 28, 1976) was a Vermont government official who served as state commissioner of taxes and Vermont State Treasurer.

Early life

George Hilton Amidon was born in Littleton, New Hampshire on July 12, 1904, the son of Mary Walker and Freeman Amidon.[1] The Amidon family resided in Barnet, Vermont, and George Amidon graduated from Wells River High School.[2] In 1926 he graduated from Boston University’s College of Business Administration.[3]

Early career

Amidon resided in Montpelier and served as a field auditor in the office of the Vermont Auditor of Accounts.[4] He was Deputy State Treasurer in the 1940s.[5] From 1945 to 1949 He was Vermont’s Commissioner of Taxes.[6]

He also pursued a career in business and banking, which continued during and after his service as state treasurer. He was vice president and a board of directors member for the Montpelier National Bank (later the Vermont National Bank).[7] In addition he was a vice president and director of the Vermont Mutual Insurance Company,[8] and a director of Vermont-New Hampshire Blue Cross and Blue Shield.[9]

State treasurer

In September 1949, incumbent treasurer Levi R. Kelley resigned in order to become treasurer and business manager for the University of Vermont.[10] Governor Ernest W. Gibson, Jr. appointed Amidon to complete Kelley’s term.[11] Amidon was elected to a full term as a Republican in 1950, and he was reelected every two years until 1964, when he lost his race for reelection to Democrat Peter J. Hincks.[12]

Vermont Republicans had won every statewide and federal election from the founding of the party in the mid-1850s until the late 1950s, and continued to dominate Vermont elections into the 1960s.[13] Democrats had finally the governorship in 1962,[14] and Amidon’s 1964 loss came as Democrats were winning every other statewide offices for the first time in Vermont’s history, including Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts, and Attorney General.[15]

Death and burial

Amidon died at the hospital in Berlin, Vermont on November 28, 1976 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Montpelier.[16] He was buried at McIndoe Falls Cemetery in Barnet, Vermont.[17]

Family

In 1929 Amidon married Teresa Jean Liddle in Barnet.[18] They were the parents of a son, Thomas J. Amidon, who became an attorney in Stowe, Vermont.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, entry for George Hilton Amidon". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. March 23, 1943. (subscription required (help)).
  2. ↑ Vermont Legislative Directory. Vermont Secretary of State: Montpelier, VT. 1947. p. 609.
  3. ↑ Associated Press (July 3, 1958). "Amidon is Candidate". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. p. 2. (subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ Tax Administrators News. 12-13. Washington, DC: Federation of Tax Administrators. 1948. p. 39.
  5. ↑ Tax Administrators News
  6. ↑ Vermont Legislative Directory, 1947, p. 609
  7. ↑ Trusts & Estates. 110. New York, NY: Communication Channels, Inc. 1971. p. 493.
  8. ↑ Best's Insurance Reports: Fire and Casualty. Oldwick, NJ: A.M. Best Company. 1966. p. 824.
  9. ↑ Associated Press (August 18, 1972). "Study Hits Health Plans for Conflict of Interest". Bridgeport Telegram. Bridgeport, CT. p. 48. (subscription required (help)).
  10. ↑ Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. 1969. p. 305.
  11. ↑ Amidon is Candidate.
  12. ↑ Hand, Samuel B.; Marro, Anthony; Terry, Stephen C. Philip Hoff: How Red Turned Blue in the Green Mountain State. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-61168-032-4.
  13. ↑ Kelley, Kevin J. (July 2, 2003). "Green Old Party: Recalling Vermont Republicans' Glory Days". Seven Days. Shelburne, VT.
  14. ↑ Warren, Kenneth F. (2008). Encyclopedia of U.S. Campaigns, Elections, and Electoral Behavior. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. p. 816. ISBN 978-1-4129-5489-1.
  15. ↑ Associated Press (November 4, 1964). "Democratic Revolution in Vermont". Portsmouth Herald. Portsmouth, NH. p. 3. (subscription required (help)).
  16. ↑ "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for George H. Amidon". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. November 28, 1976. (subscription required (help)).
  17. ↑ George H. Amidon at Find a Grave
  18. ↑ "Vermont, Marriage Records, 1909-2008, entry for George Hilton Amidon and Teresa Jean Liddle". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. July 1, 1929. (subscription required (help)).
  19. ↑ "George Amidon Dies at 72, was 15 Years State Treasurer". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. November 29, 1976. p. 18. (subscription required (help)).
Political offices
Preceded by
Levi R. Kelley		 Vermont State Treasurer
1949–1965 		Succeeded by
Peter J. Hincks
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