Robert E. Healy

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Robert E. Healy

|image = Robert E. Healy (Vermont Supreme Court Justice, US SEC Commissioner).jpg

|caption = Harris & Ewing photo, probably circa 1928, when Healy was chief counsel of the Federal Trade Commission

|birth_date = {{birth date|1883|03|25}}

|birth_place = Bennington, Vermont, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1946|11|16|1883|03|25}}

|death_place = Germantown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|resting_place = Rock Creek Cemetery
Washington, D.C., U.S.

|education = Bennington College

|president = Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman

|office = Member of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

|term = July 2, 1934 – November 16, 1946

|preceded =

|succeeded =

|party = Republican

}}

Robert E. Healy (March 25, 1883 – November 16, 1946) was a Vermont attorney and judge. He was notable as one of the original appointees to the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he served from 1934 to 1946. In addition, he served briefly as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1914 to 1915.

Early life

Robert Emmett Healy{{sfn|"U.V.M. Sends Out 220 Graduates"|pages=1, 3}} was born in Bennington, Vermont on March 25, 1883.{{sfn|Vermont, The Green Mountain State|pages=174-175}} He graduated from Bennington High School in 1901,{{sfn|Hearing Records|page=212}} studied law with Orion M. Barber, and attained admission to the bar in 1904.{{sfn|Vermont, The Green Mountain State|pages=174-175}}

Early career

Healy practiced law in partnership with Barber until 1910, when Barber became a federal judge.{{sfn|Who's Who in America|pages=174-175}} Healy then practiced as the partner of Edward H. Holden.{{sfn|Vermont, The Green Mountain State|pages=174-175}} A Republican, Healy served in local office including Bennington's town agent,{{sfn|The American Bar|page=1039}} town grand juror,{{sfn|"Few Surprises at Annual Town Meeting"|page=1}} member of the town library's board of trustees,{{sfn|"Few Surprises at Annual Town Meeting"|page=1}} and school auditor.{{sfn|State of Vermont Legislative Directory|page=459}} Healy was a longtime member of the state Board of Bar Examiners beginning in 1909,{{sfn|The American Bar|page=1039}} and served as a trustee of Bennington College.{{sfn|"Bennington College Board of Trustees"}} He was also active in several businesses, including serving as treasurer of The Vermont Company, which operated interurban electric railroads between Bennington and North Adams, Massachusetts, and Bennington and Troy, New York.{{sfn|Biennial Report of the Public Service Commission of the State of Vermont|pages=636-637}} In addition, he served on the board of directors of the National Life Insurance Company.{{sfn|"New Director for National Life Co."|page=11}}

In December 1914, Healy was nominated to serve as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, following the implementation of newly passed laws which reorganized Vermont's judiciary.{{sfn|"Court Re-Organization"|page=1}} He replaced Loveland Munson, who was not renominated because of his advanced age.{{sfn|"Court Re-Organization"|page=1}} In addition to Munson not being reappointed, longtime Associate Justice Seneca Haselton had also been denied another term on the court.{{sfn|"Court Re-Organization"|page=1}} Munson had also been overlooked when the Chief Justice position was last filled in 1913;{{sfn|"The Court Appointments"|page=5}} he was the most senior justice, and by custom the longest serving member of the court became Chief Justice when a vacancy occurred.{{sfn|"The Court Appointments"|page=5}} Public outcry over the treatment of Munson and Haselton led to the repeal of the court reorganization laws in January 1915.{{sfn|"Supreme Court is Elected Without Any Opposition"|page=13}} As part of the repeal, Chief Justice George M. Powers agreed to serve as an Associate Justice, enabling Munson to become chief justice.{{sfn|"Supreme Court is Elected Without Any Opposition"|page=13}} Leighton P. Slack agreed to return to the Vermont Superior Court, where he had served prior to his 1914 appointment to the Supreme Court.{{sfn|"Supreme Court is Elected Without Any Opposition"|page=13}} In addition, Healy agreed to end his service on the Supreme Court and withdraw his request for confirmation by the Vermont General Assembly, enabling Haselton to return as an associate justice.{{sfn|"Supreme Court is Elected Without Any Opposition"|page=13}}{{sfn|"Healy and Slack"|page=2}}

Continued career

After leaving the court, Healy continued to practice law in Bennington.{{sfn|Vermont, The Green Mountain State|pages=174-175}} From 1918 to 1919, he served as president of the Vermont Bar Association.{{sfn|"Past Presidents of the Vermont Bar Association"|page=1}}

In 1928, Healy was appointed as chief counsel of the Federal Trade Commission.{{sfn|"R. Healy, Bennington, Chosen Chief Counsel"|page=1}} He served until 1934, and earned recognition for his investigations of utility holding companies and other corporations.{{sfn|Toward a National Power Policy|pages=17-19}} Healy's work drew attention to stock price manipulation and other questionable business practices that had played a role in creating the Great Depression, and led to legislative and regulatory reforms designed to end the abuses.{{sfn|Toward a National Power Policy|pages=17-19}}

Healy's work at the FTC resulted in his 1934 appointment as a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission. During this time he was the lead council in the FTC's investigation of the nation's electric industry.{{sfn|"Robert E. Healy on Securities and Exchange Commission"|page=2}} Healy was one of the commission's five original members, who included Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (chairman), George C. Mathews, James M. Landis, and Ferdinand Pecora.{{sfn|"Robert E. Healy Dies, SEC Commissioner"|page=11}}{{sfn|"SEC Historical Summary of Chairmen and Commissioners"}} He served until his death, and was the longest-tenured of the original commissioners.{{sfn|"Robert E. Healy Dies, SEC Commissioner"|page=11}}

Death and burial

Healy died at his home in Germantown, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia, on November 16, 1946.{{sfn|"Robert E. Healy Dies, SEC Commissioner"|page=11}}{{sfn|"Bennington Native, SEC Member, Dies"|page=12}} He was buried in Section 6, Lot 151 of Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC.{{sfn|"Rock Creek Cemetery"}}

Family

In 1907, Healy married Sarah S. Houlihan (or Holihan) (1878-1966) of Bennington and Cohoes, New York.{{sfn|Who's Who in America|page=923}}{{sfn|"Sarah Holihan Healy in the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007"}} They had no children.{{sfn|"Robert E. Healy Dies, SEC Commissioner"|page=11}}

Honors

In 1933, Healy was awarded the honorary degree of LL.D. by the University of Vermont.{{sfn|"U.V.M. Sends Out 220 Graduates"|pages=1, 3}}

References

Sources

=Internet=

{{cite web |url=http://www.interment.net/data/us/dc/rock-creek-cemetery/records-hea-hix.htm |title=Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia: Surnames Hea-Hix |last=Johnson |first=Steve |date=January 16, 2017 |website=Interment.net |publisher=Clear Digital Media, Inc. |location=Menifee, CA |access-date=December 7, 2017 |ref={{sfnRef|"Rock Creek Cemetery"}}}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.vtbar.org/UserFiles/files/About%20the%20VBA/Past%20President%20List.pdf |title=Past Presidents of the Vermont Bar Association |date=2013 |website=Vtbar.org |publisher=Vermont Bar Association |location=Montpelier, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"Past Presidents of the Vermont Bar Association"}}}}
{{cite web |url=https://crossettlibrary.dspacedirect.org/handle/11209/10111 |title=Bennington College Board of Trustees |date=2002 |website=Crossett Library |publisher=Bennington College |location=Bennington, VT |access-date=December 7, 2017 |ref={{sfnRef|"Bennington College Board of Trustees"}}}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/about/sechistoricalsummary.htm |title=SEC Historical Summary of Chairmen and Commissioners |last=Securities and Exchange Commission |date=2017 |website=SEC.gov/ |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |location=Washington, DC |access-date=February 8, 2017 |ref={{sfnRef|"SEC Historical Summary of Chairmen and Commissioners"}}}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com |title=Sarah Holihan Healy in the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 |date=1966 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 8, 2017 |ref={{sfnRef|"Sarah Holihan Healy in the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007"}}}}

=Newspapers=

{{cite news |date=March 4, 1908 |title=Few Surprises at Annual Town Meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174751506/ |work=Bennington Banner |location=Bennington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Few Surprises at Annual Town Meeting"}}}}
{{cite news |date=September 24, 1913 |title=The Court Appointments |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197284355/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"The Court Appointments"}}}}
{{cite news |date=December 5, 1914 |title=Court Re-Organization |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197121822/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Court Re-Organization"}}}}
{{cite news |date=January 28, 1915 |title=Supreme Court is Elected Without Any Opposition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/194782565/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Supreme Court is Elected Without Any Opposition"}}}}
{{cite news |date=February 2, 1915 |title=Healy and Slack |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174339746/ |work=Bennington Banner |location=Bennington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Healy and Slack"}}}}
{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=January 27, 1928 |title=R. Healy, Bennington, Chosen Chief Counsel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197295924/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"R. Healy, Bennington, Chosen Chief Counsel"}}}}
{{cite news |date=September 7, 1932 |title=New Director for National Life Co. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/154114290/ |work=The Evening Journal |location=Wilmington, DE |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"New Director for National Life Co."}}}}
{{cite news |date=June 20, 1933 |title=U.V.M. Sends Out 220 Graduates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197406091/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"U.V.M. Sends Out 220 Graduates"}}}}
{{cite news |date=July 2, 1934 |title=Robert E. Healy on Securities and Exchange Commission |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197549466/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Robert E. Healy on Securities and Exchange Commission"}}}}
{{cite news |date=November 18, 1946 |title=Robert E. Healy Dies, SEC Commissioner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/171536826/ |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, PA |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Robert E. Healy Dies, SEC Commissioner"}}}}
{{cite news |date=November 18, 1946 |title=Bennington Native, SEC Member, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/58809069/ |work=Troy Times-Record |location=Troy, NY |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Bennington Native, SEC Member, Dies"}}}}

=Books=

{{cite book |last=Crockett |first=Walter Hill |date=1923 |title=Vermont, The Green Mountain State |volume=5 |url=https://archive.org/stream/vermontgreenmoun05croc#page/173/mode/2up |location=New York, NY |publisher=Century History Company |ref={{sfnRef|Vermont, The Green Mountain State}}}}
{{cite book |last=Fifield |first=James Clark |date=1921 |title=The American Bar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8dNBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1039 |location=New York, NY |publisher=James C. Fifield Company |ref={{sfnRef|The American Bar}}}}
{{cite book |last=Funigiello |first=Philip J. |date=1973 |title=Toward a National Power Policy |url=https://archive.org/details/towardnationalpo0000funi |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/towardnationalpo0000funi/page/18 18] |location=Pittsburgh, PA |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |isbn=978-0-8229-3263-5 |ref={{sfnRef|Toward a National Power Policy}}}}
{{cite book |last=Marquis |first=Albert Nelson |date=1944 |title=Who's Who in America |volume=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYd0uMDTfwMC&q=%22healy,+robert+e.%22+sarah+houlihan+1907 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=A. N. Marquis |ref={{sfnRef|Who's Who in America}}}}
{{cite book |last=U.S. House of Representatives |date=1943 |title=Hearing Records |volume=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hlYc-ph1Y-YC&q=%221901%22+%22bennington+high+school%22+%22robert+e.+healy%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=US Government Printing Office |ref={{sfnRef|Hearing Records}}}}
{{cite book |last=Vermont Legislative Council |date=1917 |title=State of Vermont Legislative Directory |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5HgzAQAAMAAJ&q=%22auditor+of+Bennington+Graded+School+District+since+1909%22 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Legislative Council |ref={{sfnRef|State of Vermont Legislative Directory}}}}
{{cite book |last=Vermont Public Service Commission |date=1914 |title=Biennial Report of the Public Service Commission of the State of Vermont |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CY47AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA637 |location=Bellows Falls, VT |publisher=P. H. Gobie Press |ref={{sfnRef|Biennial Report of the Public Service Commission of the State of Vermont}}}}