Brooks of Montpelier

About the Book

Francis Brooks grew up in Alexandria, Virginia during the years of “Jim Crow.” He graduated from Norwich University in 1967 and remained in Vermont to teach school and raise his family. He taught and coached at Montpelier High School for thirty years influencing the lives of generations of Vermonters. In 1983, he became the third African American elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. For the next twenty-five years he held a variety of important positions and played a key role in passing historic legislation that guaranteed no Vermonter would be denied his or her rights because they were different. He served as Majority Leader, Chairman of the General and Military Committee and as member of the Appropriations Committee. Today, as the Sergeant-at-Arms he is responsible for the operation and security of the Vermont State House.

About the Author

Robert L. Walsh was raised in Swampscott, Massachusetts. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Colgate University in 1955 and his master’s degree in education from the University of Vermont in 1979. He taught African American history at South Burlington High School, South Burlington, Vermont from1980-1995. Prior to entering the teaching profession, Mr. Walsh completed a career in the United States Marine Corps, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1983-1989.He was a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Vermont from 2001 – 2007 and resides in South Burlington, Vermont. Mr. Walsh is the author of Through White Eyes; Color and Racism in Vermont and the co-author of The Other America: The African American Experience.