Vermont HCR 54: House concurrent resolution congratulating Vermont Court Diversion on its 40th anniversary

Bill Text

R-74 Page 1 of 1
2025

VT LEG #382298 v.1
No. R-74. House concurrent resolution in memory of former Representative,
Governor, and Interim University of Vermont President Thomas Paul Salmon.
(H.C.R.54)
Offered by All Members of the House
Whereas, born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Massachusetts, Tom Salmon earned
both undergraduate and law school degrees from Boston College and a master’s in
taxation law from New York University Law School, and
Whereas, after completion of his education, he moved to Bellows Falls and
commenced practicing law and became active in the community, and
Whereas, in 1959, the voters of Rockingham elected him a justice of the peace and he
was also appointed that community’s legal counsel, and in 1963, he became a municipal
judge, and
Whereas, Tom Salmon served as the member from Rockingham in the Vermont House
of Representatives from 1966 to 1970, serving as House Minority Leader, and
Whereas, in 1972, at literally the last moment, when it appeared that no candidate
would file for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Tom Salmon volunteered to
launch his long-shot bid for candidacy, and
Whereas, in a truly astounding victory, Tom Salmon won 56 percent of the vote,
becoming the State’s 75th Governor, serving for two terms in an administration known
for the theme “Vermont is not for sale” and initiatives tackling property tax rates, and
Whereas, Tom Salmon remained a prominent citizen whose adroit leadership would
be called upon frequently, including as Chair of the Green Mountain Power Board of
Directors, and
Whereas, in 1991, the University of Vermont (UVM) Board of Trustees requested that
he serve as Interim UVM President; and in this office, which he described as “an honor
and challenge,” his six-year tenure steadied the governance of UVM and prepared the
campus for the future, and
Whereas, former Governor Tom Salmon’s long, active, and highly productive life
ended on January 14, 2025 at 92 years of age, and his survivors include his children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly extends its sincere condolences to the family of former
Representative, Governor, and Interim University of Vermont President Thomas Paul
Salmon, and be it further
Resolved: The Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the
family of Tom Salmon.