Louis G. Whitcomb

Louis G. Whitcomb
United States Attorney for Vermont
In office 1953–1961
Appointed by	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Joseph A. McNamara
Succeeded by	Joseph F. Radigan
President of the Vermont Bar Association
In office 1966–1967
Preceded by	Christopher A. Webber
Succeeded by	Hilton Wick
Judge of the Windsor, Vermont Municipal Court
In office January 30, 1947 – January 31, 1949
Preceded by	Walter Schinoski
Succeeded by	Kenneth Robinson
Personal details
Born	(1903-07-30)July 30, 1903 Springfield, Vermont
Died	October 12, 1984(1984-10-12) (aged 81) Springfield, Vermont
Resting place	Summer Hill Cemetery, Springfield, Vermont
Nationality	American
Spouse(s)	Catharine Kingdon (m. 1934-1946, divorced) Alice-Elizabeth Stiles (m. 1946-1984, his death)
Children	2
Education	Suffolk University Law School
Occupation	Attorney Public official
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1943–1945
Rank	Lieutenant commander
Unit	Naval Air Station Clinton, Oklahoma
Battles/wars	World War II

Louis G. Whitcomb (July 30, 1903 - October 12, 1984) was an American attorney and political figure from Vermont. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.

Early life

Louis Gorman Whitcomb was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on July 30, 1903, a son of Louis A. Whitcomb and Mary E. (Gorman) Whitcomb. He was raised in Taunton until he was 14, when his family relocated to Springfield, Vermont. Whitcomb graduated from Springfield High School in 1921. He taught school before deciding on a legal career. In 1929, he received his LL.B. degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Start of career

Whitcomb was admitted to the bar in 1929 and practiced in Springfield. In the 1920s and 1930s, Whitcomb and friend Everett Williams, the station manager of WNBX in Springfield, hosted a weekday morning radio show.

A Republican, Whitcomb served as a Springfield justice of the peace from 1923 to 1953. Whitcomb joined the United States Navy for World War II and served from 1943 to 1945. After completing his initial training at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, Whitcomb was assigned to the staff of Naval Air Station Clinton, Oklahoma. He attained the rank of lieutenant commander, and after his discharge he resumed practicing law in Springfield.

From 1947 to 1948 he served as executive clerk to Governor Ernest W. Gibson Jr. In addition, he served as judge of Windsor's municipal court from 1947 to 1949.

U.S. Attorney

The 1952 presidential election victory of Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower gave him the opportunity to appoint Republicans to federal posts including United States Attorney following 20 years of Democratic administrations led by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. In October 1953, Eisenhower nominated Whitcomb to succeed Joseph A. McNamara as U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont; Whitcomb had been jointly recommended by Vermont's U.S. Senators, George Aiken and Ralph Flanders. Whitcomb continued to serve until 1961, when the newly-elected Democratic president, John F. Kennedy, nominated Democrat Joseph F. Radigan to succeed Whitcomb.

Later career

After leaving office, Whitcomb resumed practicing law in Springfield. From 1966 to 1967 he served as president of the Vermont Bar Association. Whitcomb was a member of the Springfield Housing Authority, and a trustee of Springfield's town library. He was also a trustee of the Claremont Savings Bank (Claremont, New Hampshire), a member of Springfield's Elks lodge, and a member of Springfield's American Legion post.

Death and burial

Whitcomb practiced law until retiring in 1981. In 1983, he suffered a stroke that made it difficult for him to move or speak. He died in Springfield on October 12, 1984. Whitcomb was buried at Summer Hill Cemetery in Springfield.

Family

In 1934, Whitcomb married Catharine Kingdon (1909-1997) of Claremont, New Hampshire. They divorced following his return from military service and in 1946 Whitcomb married Alice-Elizabeth (Stiles) Hackett (1908-1998). With his first wife, Whitcomb was the father of Priscilla Herbert (1938-2009). With his second wife, Whitcomb was the father of daughter Susan Sbrega Foster.

Sources

Newspapers

• "Louis G. Whitcomb Weds Catherine Kingdon". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, VT. November 20, 1934. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
• "L. G. Whitcomb, Springfield, in Naval Reserves". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, VT. March 6, 1943. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Springfield: Lieut. Louis G. Whitcomb". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, VT. July 1, 1943. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Springfield: Louis G. Whitcomb and Alice Elizabeth Hackett Were Married". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, VT. September 2, 1946. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Radigan Sworn In to U.S. Post". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, VT. May 6, 1961. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Governor Offers Congratulations". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. October 3, 1966. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Sbrega-Whitcomb Wedding". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. August 3, 1980. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
• Smallheer, Susan (October 13, 1984). "Former U.S. Attorney Dead". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, VT. Southern Vermont Bureau. pp. 5–6 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Obituary, Catharine L. Kingdon LaCasse". Mansfield News Journal. Mansfield, OH. November 10, 1997. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Obituary, Priscilla Hebert". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. July 22, 2009 – via Legacy.com.

Books

• Armstrong, Howard E. (1957). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 602 – via HathiTrust.

Magazines

• Thompson, Ellie (May 19, 1989). "WNBX Springfield, 1927-1940" (PDF). Voices from the Hills. South Royalton, VT: Vermont Association of Broadcasters. p. 7.