State of Vermont
House of Representatives
Montpelier, Vermont
Concurrent House Resolution
H.C.R. 360
House concurrent resolution honoring Ellie Dixon and Robert “Bob” Dixon of Lyndon for
their respective career accomplishments in journalism, academia, and politics in the Northeast
Kingdom
Offered by: Representatives Hudson of Lyndon, Bostic of St. Johnsbury, Clark of St.
Johnsbury, Larocque of Barnet, Larrabee of Danville, Lawrence of Lyndon, Leriche of
Hardwick, Morley of Barton, Otterman of Topsham, Peaslee of Guildhall and Rodgers of Glover
Offered by: Senators Coppenrath, Doyle and Kitchel
Whereas, since arriving in the Northeast Kingdom in 1965, Ellie and Bob Dixon have pursued
personally fulfilling careers that have left enduring and positive impacts on important institutions
in both the Northeast Kingdom and the entire state of Vermont, and
Whereas, Ellie Dixon grew up in Maine and attended college in Denmark, in Colorado where
she met Bob, and at Johnson State, and
Whereas, after spending the earlier years of her marriage raising three children, Ellie Dixon
entered the journalism profession on a part-time basis becoming a freelance stringer at the
Caledonian Record in St. Johnsbury, and
Whereas, the paper’s editors recognized immediately that her insightful reporting and well
written copy merited regular publication, and, in 1980, she was hired as a full-time reporter, and
Whereas, within a few short years, Ellie Dixon was promoted to the position of city editor,
and, by March 1993, she had been named managing editor with responsibility for a news
operation that covered two states and five counties, and
Whereas, she helped to increase the Record’s circulation to an historic high and worked
closely with her colleagues on the challenging transformation of the paper from an afternoon to a
morning publication schedule, and
Whereas, in the course of her journalism career as a reporter and editor at the Caledonian
Record, Ellie Dixon was an ardent advocate for the public’s right to know, not withstanding
governmental attempts to deny the public access to information to which it was legally entitled,
and
Whereas, she demonstrated this journalistic credo when the Caledonian Record sought
successfully a judicial order to require the Lyndon State College administration to release
campus crime records, and
Whereas, Ellie Dixon took steps that she believed to be in the public interest, including her
publication of local officials’ salaries and her campaign against domestic abuse, and
Whereas, her colleagues beyond St. Johnsbury recognized her skills and leadership ability,
and she was elected twice as president of the Vermont Press Association and later served as
president of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors, and
www.leg.state.vt.us
Whereas, Ellie Dixon believed her responsibility as a journalist was not limited to reporting
and editing the daily paper as she organized political candidates’ debates and assumed an
educational role, arranging journalism workshops and assisting Lyndon Institute in securing
financing to revive the high school’s student newspaper, “The Campus News,” and
Whereas, Bob Dixon graduated from the University of Denver, earned a master’s degree at
the University of Colorado, and pursued advanced graduate studies at the University of
Connecticut, and
Whereas, as a political scientist on the faculty at Lyndon State College, he has taught courses
on various aspects of American politics, including general survey classes and specialized courses
on Vermont politics, constitutional law, labor and American politics, and politics and the press,
as well as classes on international affairs, and
Whereas, throughout his teaching career, Bob Dixon has encouraged his students to become
involved in the political process, and two of his students, the late former Representative Bob
Kinsey of Craftsbury and Representative Cola Hudson of Lyndon, took his advice and became
highly respected members and leaders in the House of Representatives, and
Whereas, he followed his own counsel and had an active life in Vermont and national politics
including working on presidential campaigns, serving as secretary of the Vermont Democratic
Party, and more recently serving as chair of the Progressive Party in Caledonia County, and
Whereas, for 30 years, Bob Dixon held elective office as a justice of the peace in Lyndon, and
the secretary of state recognized him for his many years of dedicated public service as a
municipal official, and
Whereas, Ellie and Bob Dixon are now at the conclusion of their respective professional
careers and will be relocating to South Carolina, and they look forward to spending more time
with their three children and two grandchildren but will no doubt pursue, at least occasionally,
activities related to their respective professions, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly honors Ellie Dixon and Robert Dixon of Lyndon for their
respective career accomplishments in journalism, academia, and politics in the Northeast
Kingdom and wishes them many years of enjoyable and enlightening retirement, and be it further
Resolved: That the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Ellie and
Bob Dixon in Lyndon.
Attested to:
Brian E. Dubie
President of the Senate
Donald G. Milne
Clerk, House of Representatives
Date:_______________________
www.leg.state.vt.us