Richard A. Snelling

Richard Snelling
Official portrait, c. 1980
76th and 78th Governor of Vermont
In office January 10, 1991 – August 13, 1991
Lieutenant	Howard Dean
Preceded by	Madeleine Kunin
Succeeded by	Howard Dean
In office January 6, 1977 – January 10, 1985
Lieutenant	Garry Buckley Madeleine Kunin Peter Smith
Preceded by	Thomas P. Salmon
Succeeded by	Madeleine Kunin
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office August 11, 1981 – August 10, 1982
Preceded by	George Busbee
Succeeded by	Scott M. Matheson
Majority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1975–1977
Preceded by	Giles Dewey
Succeeded by	Jim Douglas
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1973–1977 Serving with Howard Lunderville (1973–1975) David Curtis (1975–1977)
Preceded by	Mary Thurber
Succeeded by	Gretchen B. Morse Sallie Soule
Constituency	30th district (1973–1975) 7th Chittenden (1975–1977)
In office 1959–1961
Preceded by	Derick V. Webb
Succeeded by	Eustace Thomas
Constituency	Shelburne, Vermont, U.S.
Personal details
Born	Richard Arkwright Snelling (1927-02-18)February 18, 1927 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 13, 1991(1991-08-13) (aged 64) Shelburne, Vermont, U.S.
Resting place	Shelburne Village Cemetery, Shelburne, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Barbara Weil ​ (m. 1947)​
Relations	Alice Lee Moqué (grandmother) Charles W. Hornor (great-grandfather)
Children	4, including Diane
Parent(s)	Walter O. Snelling Helen Marjorie Gehrig
Education	Harvard University (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1945–1946
Rank	Technician fifth grade
Battles/wars	World War II Occupation of Germany

Richard Arkwright Snelling (February 18, 1927 – August 13, 1991) was an American businessman, politician, and the 76th and 78th governor of Vermont from 1977 to 1985 and from January 10, 1991, until his death.

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Snelling was educated in Allentown and served in the United States Army at the end of World War II and during the post-war occupation of Germany. He graduated from Harvard University in 1948 and embarked on a business career, working for companies in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. After settling in Vermont, he founded Shelburne Industries, a maker of ski racks and other ski equipment. He became active in politics as a Republican, served a term in the Vermont House of Representatives (1959–1961), and ran unsuccessfully for Vermont Senate in 1956, lieutenant governor in 1964, and governor in 1966. In 1972, Snelling was again elected to the Vermont House. He was reelected in 1974, and served from 1973 to 1977. In his second term, Snelling was chosen to serve as majority leader.

In 1976, Snelling was the successful Republican nominee for governor. He was re-elected three times, and served from 1977 to 1985. In 1986, Snelling was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for the United States Senate, and was defeated by incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy. In 1990, he was the successful Republican nominee for governor. He was inaugurated in January 1991, and served until his death. Snelling's family was prominent in Vermont politics; his wife Barbara served as lieutenant governor and a member of the state senate. His daughter Diane succeeded her mother as a state senator. His son Mark was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010.