Speaker of the House

WHEN Mansfield D. Sprague '33 was elected to the highest honor possible for a member of the House of Representatives of Connecticut and named Speaker of the House, he observed, "It was a thunderstorm and the lightning hit me." Yet a study of his career since graduation reveals a steady increase in the recognition by others of his abilities in his community, and farther afield.

In the recent election for Speaker, his name was brought up as a compromise candidate by Connecticut legislators when the administrative efficiency of the group was threatened by inter-party strife over the two other candidates seeking the office. In the interests of peace, "Manny" Sprague became of the choice of both Republican factions. However, it is hard not to conclude from his public record that even if the lightning had not struck this time, it would surely have got to him later.

A partner in the law firm of Boardman, Stoddard and McCarthy in Bridgeport, Representative Sprague, who received his LL.B. degree from Yale Law School in 1936, makes his home in New Canaan. In 1946 he was elected New Canaan's Representative in the General Assembly; in the 1947 session he served on the Finance and Insurance Committees; and in 1949 he was chairman of the Finance Committee at a time when tax problems were acute in Connecticut.

During his service in the House, he has commanded the respect of not only his fellow legislators but newsmen, who named him "the most able legislator," "the most able committee chairman," and the "handsomest law-maker in the House" in the 1949 session. When he speaks from the floor, which is not often, he is given close attention, for it is known that his points are based upon sound thinking and careful study of the subject under discussion.

In addition to various civic interests, "Manny" Sprague served as secretary of the Connecticut Bar Association from 1946 until 1950. Active in New Canaan promoting veterans' housing projects and opposing local racial restrictions, he has also been a loyal worker for Dartmouth. He is a former secretary of the Dartmouth Connecticut Association, and was elected a member of the Alumni Council in 1942.

The Spragues have two children: Daniel, 10, and Susan, 12.

MANSFIELD D. SPRAGUE '33