Compiled by Russell Bastedo
NH State Curator
1998/1999

Vesta M. Roy (1925 - 2002)
Born at Detroit (MI); died at Kenmore (NY).
Portrait by Richard Whitney, 2005.
Presented by Dr. Albert Roy and family, March 2006.

Roy was a college student at Wayne State University when she tried to volunteer for military service during World War Two. Rejected because of her age by the U.S. military, Roy served with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a radio operator, 1943-1945. Roy was named Leading Air Woman, 1943-1945.

Roy married in 1945, raised five children and became active in New Hampshire politics when she was elected a state representative from Salem, NH (served 1973-1975). She was a delegate to the 1976 state constitutional convention, and later that year served as co-chair of the state committee at the Republican National Convention. She spent the next three years working with local and state non-profits, and served in local government as a Salem selectman. In 1979 Roy was elected to the state senate (served 1979-1986; president of the senate, 1983-1986).

Following the November 1982 popular election, on November 20, 1982 New Hampshire governor Hugh J. Gallen was hospitalized for what proved to be a fatal illness. Gallen died December 29, 1982. Senate president Rober B. Monier served as acting governor November 20-November 30, 1982, when the legislature dissolved by law at midnight. For several hours Secretary of State William M. Gardner served as acting governor, until the new senate and house were sworn in. The new senate elected Roy president of the senate, and she immediately became acting governor. Roy served as acting governor until January 6, 1983, when John Sununu was sworn into office and became the state's next elected governor.

References: State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court, 1983, no.48; New Hampshire Elected Officials, 1983 & 1984; New Hampshire Elected Officials, 1985 & 1986.