Compiled by Russell Bastedo
State Curator
1998

Hugh J. Gallen (1979-1982). Born at Portland (OR); Littleton (NH) businessman. In state politics from 1973.

Hugh Gallen's (1924 - 1982) family moved from Oregon to Medford (MA) in 1930, and Gallen graduated from Medford High School. As a teenager he worked summers in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), building roads and campsites on and near Mount Kearsarge (NH). After graduation Gallen played minor league baseball and hoped to get to "the majors," but an arm injury ended his baseball career. Gallen married in 1948 and began work as an automobile salesman in Littleton (NH).

Gallen became owner of a Littleton (NH) automobile dealership, Hugh Gallen, Inc., in 1964. Gallen was a member of the Littleton Planning Board (1962 - 1965), and in 1967 he served on the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration. In 1969 Gallen became chairman of the New Hampshire-Vermont Development Council, and chairman of the board of a Littleton (NH) bank. He also served as Director of White Mountain Community Service at about this time.

Gallen was elected to the state legislature in 1973 - the first time Littleton had elected a Democrat to the legislature. He entered the 1978 Democratic Party primary for governor and won. He became governor when the Republican Party split after a bitter battle between Wesley Powell and Meldrim Thomson, Jr.

In 1979 Governor Gallen called out the National Guard to help protect a nuclear power plant at Seabrook (NH) against anti-nuclear protesters. Gallen's strong action helped him win reelection against Meldrim Thomson, Jr. in 1980, but a year later 9,200 state employees struck for higher wages. In negotiations with the employees' union Gallen agreed to a nine percent increase in wages, but the Republican-dominated legislature would only agree to a six percent wage increase. Gallen vetoed the legislature's budget, but he refused to support a state sales tax or an income tax to help pay for his budget. Gallen had no way to pay for his budget, and this cost Gallen the election. Gallen lost the 1982 election to Republican John Sununu.

Shortly after the election Gallen contracted a rare blood infection. President of the Senate Mrs. Vesta M. Roy served as Acting Governor from December 1, 1982 - January 6, 1983, when John Sununu became governor. It was the third time in state history that the President of the Senate had become governor without benefit of popular vote; this had happened in 1831, and again in 1918. It was the first time a woman President of the Senate had become governor in this way.

Location: State House Second Floor
Portrait by Richard Whitney, 1992