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Asa S. Bloomer
Asa S. Bloomer
	Bloomer as department commander of the American Legion in 1934
President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate
	In office; 1959–1963
Preceded by	Robert S. Babcock
Succeeded by	Joseph H. Denny
	In office; 1955–1957
Preceded by	Carleton G. Howe
Succeeded by	Robert S. Babcock
	In office; 1949–1951
Preceded by	Carroll L. Coburn
Succeeded by	Merrill W. Harris
Member of the Vermont Senate from Rutland County
	In office; 1945–1963 Serving with Various (multi-member district)
Preceded by	John A. M. Hinsman, Hollis I. Loveland, Guy L. Stafford, Arthur C. Grover
Succeeded by	Robert A. Bloomer (Appointed)
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
	In office; 1943–1945
Preceded by	Lee E. Emerson
Succeeded by	Joseph H. Denny
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from West Rutland
	In office; 1937–1945
Preceded by	John J. Murphy
Succeeded by	George Lamphere
State's Attorney of Rutland County, Vermont
	In office; 1935–1937
Preceded by	Jack A. Crowley
Succeeded by	Angelo J. Spero
Personal details
Born	Asa Schoonmaker Bloomer; August 15, 1891; Proctor, Vermont, U.S.
Died	February 21, 1963 (aged 71); Montpelier, Vermont, U.S.
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery, Rutland, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Florence E. O'Neil (m. 1918)
Children	2 (John H. Bloomer; Robert A. Bloomer)
Education	University of Vermont; Yale Law School
Profession	Attorney
Nickname	"Ace"
Military service
Service	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1918
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	United States Army Air Service
Wars	World War I

Asa Schoonmaker "Ace" Bloomer (August 15, 1891 – February 21, 1963) was an American politician and lawyer who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and President Pro Tem of the Vermont Senate.

Early life

Bloomer was born in Proctor, Vermont, on August 15, 1891. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1913 and received a law degree from Yale Law School in 1916, afterwards practicing law in Rutland County.^[1]

World War I

He enlisted in the Army for World War I and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Aviation. Bloomer served in Nebraska, Ohio, and Texas before being discharged in December, 1918.^[2]^[3]

Rutland County State's Attorney

A Republican, Bloomer was Rutland County State's Attorney from 1935 to 1937. During his term he garnered nationwide headlines when he indicted Governor Charles M. Smith. Smith had been President of Rutland's Marble Bank and was accused with other bank officers of defrauding depositors. (In May 1932 Smith learned that his bank's bookkeeper had embezzled $251,000. Smith let the bookkeeper resign, did not disclose the theft, and charged the loss against the bank's surplus. In July 1935, the bookkeeper was named Rutland's Assistant City Treasurer and planned a candidacy for Treasurer. His political opponents then leaked word of the theft to the press. In December 1935 Bloomer charged Smith and other bank officers with abetting the theft for failing to inform account holders and authorities. The bookkeeper was convicted, and the bank Treasurer received a suspended sentence and paid a $400 fine. Charges against some other officers were dismissed. Smith was acquitted at trial)^[4]^[5]

Bloomer also brought charges against a Proctor, Vermont selectman for neglect of duty after the town sided with management and refused to provide emergency aid to the children of striking workers at the Vermont Marble Company.^[6]

Vermont House of Representatives

In 1936 Bloomer ran successfully for the Vermont House of Representatives and served four terms, 1937 to 1945. In his final term (1943 to 1945) Bloomer served as Speaker of the House.^[7]^[8]

Bloomer ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to be Lieutenant Governor in 1944, losing to Lee E. Emerson, who went on to win the general election.^[9]

Vermont Senate

Bloomer ran successfully for the Vermont Senate in 1946, and he was re-elected eight times, serving from 1947 to his death. He was President Pro Tem of the Senate in 1949, 1955, and 1959 until his death.^[10]^[11]

Death and burial

Bloomer died at Montpelier's Heaton Hospital on February 21, 1963, after suffering a heart attack at the Vermont State House. He was buried in Rutland's Evergreen Cemetery.^[12]^[13]

Family

Asa Bloomer's sons, Robert A. Bloomer (1921–1999) and John H. Bloomer Sr. (1930–1995), both served in the Vermont Senate. Robert was Senate President from 1975 to 1985 and John served as President of the Senate from 1993 to 1995.^[14]^[15]

Judith Bloomer Crowley (née Wener; born 1936), the wife of John H. Bloomer Sr. and mother of John H. Bloomer Jr., served in the Vermont Senate from 1995 to 1997, and in the Vermont House from 2001 to 2005.^[16]

John H. Bloomer Jr. (born 1960) served in the Vermont Senate from 1997 to 2005. In 2011, he was appointed Secretary of the Senate.^[17]

Legacy

The state office building in the city of Rutland was named for Asa S. Bloomer in 1999.^[18]

References

^ Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1947, page 414
^ U.S. Adjutant General Military Records, 1631-1976, record for Asa Schoonmacker Bloomer, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 24, 2012
^ World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, record for Asa S. Bloomer, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 24, 2012
^ Newspaper article, Governor Named in Connection With Bank Thefts, by Associated Press, Reno Gazette, November 30, 1936
^ Newspaper article, Gov. Smith is Acquitted, by Associated Press, Lowell Sun, December 2, 1936
^ The Star That Set: The Vermont Republican Party, 1854-1974, by Samuel B. Hand, 2003, page 155
^ Speakers Ballot Votes, 1915 to 2003, published by Vermont House of Representatives, 2003
^ Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1959, page 793
^ 1944 Republican Primary Election Results, published by Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2006, page 1
^ Newspaper article, Bloomer Was State's Best Known Solon, by Associated Press, published in Bennington Banner, February 22, 1963
^ List of Vermont Senate Presidents Pro Tempore, published by Vermont State Senate, 2012
^ Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, record for Asa Schoonmaker Bloomer, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 24, 2012
^ Newspaper article, Sen. Bloomer, 71, Drops Dead at Vt. Assembly, Boston Globe, February 22, 1963
^ Newspaper article, John Bloomer; Vermont Legislator, 64, New York Times, January 11, 1995
^ Obituary, Ex-Vermont State Senator Robert Bloomer, New York Newsday, December 8, 1999.
^ Journal of the Vermont Senate, published by Vermont Senate, February 9, 1995.
^ Newspaper article, John Bloomer returns to the Senate in a new role Archived 2012-07-09 at archive.today, by Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free Press, January 4, 2011.
^ Vermont Statutes Annotated, published by Equity Publishing Corporation, 1999, page 111

Political offices
Preceded by Lee E. Emerson	Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives 1943–1945	Succeeded by Joseph H. Denny
Preceded by Carroll L. Coburn	President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate 1949 – 1951	Succeeded by Merrill W. Harris
Preceded by Carleton G. Howe	President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate 1955 – 1957	Succeeded by Robert S. Babcock
Preceded by Robert S. Babcock	President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate 1959 – 1963	Succeeded by John H. Boylan

[1] Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1947, page 414

[2] U.S. Adjutant General Military Records, 1631-1976, record for Asa Schoonmacker Bloomer, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 24, 2012

[3] World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, record for Asa S. Bloomer, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 24, 2012

[4] Newspaper article, Governor Named in Connection With Bank Thefts, by Associated Press, Reno Gazette, November 30, 1936

[5] Newspaper article, Gov. Smith is Acquitted, by Associated Press, Lowell Sun, December 2, 1936

[6] The Star That Set: The Vermont Republican Party, 1854-1974, by Samuel B. Hand, 2003, page 155

[7] Speakers Ballot Votes, 1915 to 2003, published by Vermont House of Representatives, 2003

[8] Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1959, page 793

[9] 1944 Republican Primary Election Results, published by Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2006, page 1

[10] Newspaper article, Bloomer Was State's Best Known Solon, by Associated Press, published in Bennington Banner, February 22, 1963

[11] List of Vermont Senate Presidents Pro Tempore, published by Vermont State Senate, 2012

[12] Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, record for Asa Schoonmaker Bloomer, accessed via Ancestry.com, March 24, 2012

[13] Newspaper article, Sen. Bloomer, 71, Drops Dead at Vt. Assembly, Boston Globe, February 22, 1963

[14] Newspaper article, John Bloomer; Vermont Legislator, 64, New York Times, January 11, 1995

[15] Obituary, Ex-Vermont State Senator Robert Bloomer, New York Newsday, December 8, 1999.

[16] Journal of the Vermont Senate, published by Vermont Senate, February 9, 1995.

[17] Newspaper article, John Bloomer returns to the Senate in a new role Archived 2012-07-09 at archive.today, by Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free Press, January 4, 2011.

[18] Vermont Statutes Annotated, published by Equity Publishing Corporation, 1999, page 111

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