Tribute to Former Gov. Winant Planned

State Rep. , D-Penacook, filed a bill in the House this year to honor former Gov. John G. Winant.

Shurtleff's bill was sent to a subcommittee to discuss the possibilities on how to honor him. It is felt that Gov. Winant accomplished so much while he was governor and in later years serving in the Former President Roosevelt's administration. He was born in 1889 and attended in Concord.  He attended Princeton University but failed to graduate from the Ivy League College. 

Winant lived with style in a big white Colonial on Pleasant Street that became the site of the . His wealthy wife, Constance Rivington Russell, was a socialite who preferred the salons of Paris to the solons in the . Winant is said to have suffered serious financial losses in the Depression. He served as governor from 1925-27 becomming the youngest governor in the Republic. He was elected again from 1931 to 1935. Winant's performance caught the eye Frances Perkins who was the Secretary of Labor.  With Perkins' backing, Winant took a job as assistant director of the International Labor Organization after he left the Statehouse. 

There is so much more to the accomplishments of Gov. Winant. Thus State Representative Shurtleff felt that he was not given the honor he should have. His portrait does hang as a former governor in the State House. 

The subcommittee met with State Sen.  and the three members discussing ideas and what the next approach would be. I co-sponsored the bill and said I would contact relatives of the former governor and St Paul's School .

There are several ideas about having a lifesize monument on the grounds of the State Library. There is no more room on the Statehouse grounds itself, so it was suggested to place something on the property of the .

A fundraising drive may have to be held. It is unknown when this will begin but it is hopeful that donations will come in to help build this lasting tribute to a wonderful man who did so much in the state of New Hampshire.