Walter E. Freed

Walter E. Freed (born August 13, 1951) is a Vermont politician and businessman who served two terms as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Biography

Walter E. Freed was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 13, 1951. He graduated from Granville High School in 1970 and Dartmouth College in 1974, receiving a degree in Economics.^[1][2][3]

In 1979 Freed settled in Dorset and became President of Apollo Industries, a petroleum marketer which operates gasoline stations and convenience stores in several states.^[4]

Political career

A Republican, Freed served as Chairman of the Dorset School Board and as a member of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union School Board. In 1988 he was elected Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, and he was a Delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1992, 1996 and 2000.^[5]

In 1992 Freed was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, and he served six terms, 1993 to 2005. Freed was the Assistant Minority Leader from 1995 to 1997, and Minority Leader from 1997 to 2001. In 2001 Republicans regained the majority in the House and Freed was elected Speaker, serving until 2005.^[6][7][8][9]

Later career

Freed did not run for reelection to the House in 2004. In 2005 he was appointed to the Vermont Liquor Control Board, and was named the board's Chairman in 2007.^[10][11] Freed also continued his involvement in Republican politics, including service as a delegate to state and national conventions.^[12]

References

1. Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual, by Vermont Secretary of State, 2001, page 168
2. Alumni updates, The Caduceus magazine, published by Kappa Sigma fraternity, Spring 2001, page 18
3. Honor Roll, Class of 1974, by Dartmouth College Fund, 2004
4. Wedding announcement, Rachel Gore and Jonathan Freed, New York Times, October 16, 2011
5. Biographical Sketches of State Officers and Members of the General Assembly of 2003-2004, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 2004, page 29
6. Newspaper article, Freed Takes House Gavel; New Speaker Reaches Out to Democrats, by Frederick Bever and Tracy Schmaler, Vermont Press Bureau, published in Rutland Herald, January 4, 2001
7. Newspaper article, Freed's Departure is Democrats' "Opportunity", by Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free Press, April 9, 2004
8. Joint Concurrent House Resolution 130, by Vermont House of Representatives, 2004
9. List of Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives, by Vermont Secretary of State, 2012
10. Commissioner's Corner, by Muchael S. Hogan, DLC Soirit magazine, Vermont Department of Liquor Control, Spring 2007, pages 1 and 2
11. Biography, Walter E. Freed, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, accessed April 2, 2012
12. News article, Vermont’s Republican Delegation Happy With VP Pick, by Ross Sneyd, Vermont Public Radio, September 3, 2008