Clifton G. Parker

Clifton Goodrich Parker was born in Wolcott, Vermont on October 2, 1906, the son of H. Alton and Katie (Goodrich) Parker.[1] He graduated from Hardwick Academy, and became a clerk for a local judge.[1] He then studied law at the office of attorney James Campbell in St. Johnsbury, and attained admission to the bar in 1935.[1] He practiced law in Morrisville, initially as the partner of Frederick G. Fleetwood, and later as a sole practitioner.[1]

A Republican, Parker served as state's attorney of Lamoille County from 1936 to 1941.[2]

In 1939, he was appointed first assistant clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives, and he served until 1941.[3][2] In 1943 he was elected Clerk of the House as the replacement for Harold J. Arthur during Arthur's military service for World War II.[4][5] Parker served as Clerk until 1947, when he was succeeded by Arthur.[5]

In December 1941 he accepted Alban J. Parker’s (no relation) appointment as Vermont’s deputy attorney general, and he served until the end of Parker’s term in 1947.[6][2] In 1946, Clifton Parker was the successful Republican nominee to succeed Alban Parker.[7] He was reelected in 1948 and 1950, and served from 1947 until resigning effective December 31, 1952.[8][9][10] He was succeeded by F. Elliott Barber Jr., who won the 1952 election for the term beginning in January 1953; the Governor of Vermont appointed Barber to fill the vacancy caused by Parker's resignation.[10]

He was active in the Vermont Bar Association, and served as its president from 1959 to 1960.[11] In addition, he was a member of the state Board of Bar Examiners for several years.[2] Parker was also active in local government for both Morrisville and Morristown, including serving on the water and power commission, town attorney, and town meeting moderator.[1]

Parker was an amateur radio operator and a licensed boat captain; during World War II he invented a navigational device which was used by the United States Navy, and he also designed several railroad radio communication systems.[1]

Parker died in Burlington on April 19, 1988.[1] He was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville.

In 1926, Parker was married to Florence Simmons, and they were the parents of six children – Dee, Robert, Charlotte, Arlyn, Carolyn, and William.[1][12]