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Roy Willard Rawlings

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Painted portrait of Roy Rawlings by Wilfred I. Duphiney

Roy Willard Rawlings (March 8, 1883 – 1973) was an American politician in Rhode Island. A Republican, was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1923 to 1934. He held the speakership from 1927 to 1933.

Life and career

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Rawlings was born on March 8, 1883, in Franklin, Illinois, to parents John H. Rawlings and Martha K. Seymour.[1][2] He graduated DePauw University in 1908, and married Lucy I. Gammell later that year.[1][2] The Rawlings family moved from Illinois to Rhode Island in 1913,[3] a year after Rawlings and his wife had acquired the Lillibridge Plantation from Albert and Susie Watson.[4][5] His son Rob Roy Rawlings and daughter Lucy Rawlings Tootell also served in government.[6]

Rawlings, a Republican,[7] was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives between 1923 and 1934, and served as speaker of the Rhode Island House from 1927 to 1933.[1] He won the speakership when Democratic lawmakers crossed the floor to vote for him.[8]

Rawlings was a stage actor and tax assessor before serving in the Rhode Island House.[1][9] He lived in Richmond and later West Kingston.[10][11]

After concluding his time as house speaker, Rawlings purchased the Wood River Branch Railroad in 1937 for $301.[12] He served as president until the line ceased operations in 1947.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Who's who in the East". Larkin, Roosevelt & Larkin. May 28, 1957 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Alumnal Record. De Pauw University. 1915. p. 293.
  3. ^ Wilson, Iain; Gomes, Derrick (April 19, 2013). "Two South County women among inductees to Heritage Hall of Fame". The Independent. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Hall, James Lowell (2015). Lillibridge Houses, expanded version. Lulu.com. p. 26. ISBN 9781329396500.
  5. ^ Hall, James (2015). Lillibridge Houses. Lulu.com. p. 11. ISBN 9781329212961.
  6. ^ Heppner, Frank (February 27, 2012). Railroads of Rhode Island: Shaping the Ocean State's Railways. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781614233633 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame: Lucy Rawlings Tootell, Inducted 2013". www.riheritagehalloffame.com.
  8. ^ House, Kirk W. (May 27, 2007). Richmond. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738549026 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "Alumni News". The Delta Upsilon Quarterly. Vol. 27. 1908. p. 102. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  10. ^ Report of the Board of Tax Commissioners Made to the Governor. E. L. Freeman Company. 1914. p. 34. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Lobby Investigation: October 15-18, 21-23, 1929. Government Printing Office. 1929. p. 1052. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  12. ^ "Rail Line And Bonds Cost $301". The Windsor Daily Star. October 17, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Wood River R.R To Cease at Last". The Day. August 18, 1947. p. 14. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
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