Thomas W. Sorrell

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Thomas W. Sorrell
United States Marshal for the District of Vermont
In office
August 3, 1961 – June 20, 1969
Preceded byDewey H. Perry
Succeeded byChristian Hansen Jr.
Personal details
Born(1917-11-22)November 22, 1917
Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
DiedMarch 18, 1984(1984-03-18) (aged 66)
Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Resting placeResurrection Park Cemetery, South Burlington, Vermont
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Esther Elizabeth Hartigan (m. 1942-1984, his death)
Children5 (including William Sorrell)
OccupationLaw enforcement officer
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1942-1945
RankUS Army WWII TSGT.svg Technical Sergeant
UnitUnited States Army Air Forces
Battles/warsWorld War II

Thomas W. Sorrell (November 22, 1917 - March 18, 1984) was a career law enforcement officer from Vermont. He was most notable for his service as Vermont's U.S. Marshal for Vermont from 1961 to 1969.

Biography[]

Thomas William Sorrell was born in Burlington, Vermont on November 22, 1917, a son of William and Irene (Proulx) Sorrell.[1] He attended the parochial schools of Burlington, and was a 1936 graduate of Burlington's Cathedral High School.[1] Before joining the military, Sorrell was employed by The Burlington Free Press as an apprentice printer.[2][3]

Sorrell served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.[4] After enlisting in 1942, his duty stations included Dow Field, Maine, Bradley Field, Connecticut, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.[4][5] Sorrell attained the rank of technical sergeant and was discharged at the end of the war in 1945.[6]

After his military service, Sorrell joined the Burlington Police Department, where he served from 1947 to 1953.[7] He was a member of the Burlington Police Commission from 1957 to 1960.[7] From 1953 to 1961, Sorrell was an investigator for the Central Vermont Railway.[7] In addition, he served as a deputy sheriff for Chittenden County from 1953 to 1961.[8]

Following the election of John F. Kennedy, a Democrat to the presidency in 1960, in 1961 Democrat Sorrell succeeded Dewey H. Perry, a Republican, as U.S. Marshal for Vermont.[7] Sorrell served until 1969, and was succeeded by Christian Hansen Jr.[7] Beginning in 1969, Sorrell was a criminal investigator for the Colchester Police Department.[7] In 1977, he was appointed as Burlington's city constable and tax collector.[7]

Sorrell died in Burlington on March 18, 1984.[1] He was buried at Resurrection Park in South Burlington.[1]

Family[]

In June 1942, Sorrell married Esther Elizabeth Hartigan.[2] Esther Hartigan Sorrell was active in building the Vermont Democratic Party into a viable statewide organization following a century of Republican dominance.[9] She won a seat in the Vermont Senate in 1982 and served from 1973 to 1983.[9]

Thomas and Esther Sorrell were the parents of four daughters and a son -- Mary Beth, Karen, Anne, Micaela, and William.[1] William Sorrell served as Vermont Attorney General from 1997 to 2017.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Death Notice, Thomas W. Sorrell". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 19, 1984. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Miss Hartigan Is Bride of Thomas Sorrell". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. June 20, 1942. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "1940 United States Federal Census, Entry for Thomas W. Sorrell". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1940. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Burlington Personal Diary: Thomas W. Sorrell". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. November 7, 1942. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Hunt, Ginger (July 27, 1943). "Did You Know: Thomas Sorrell". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Funeral of Mrs. Proux". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. April 26, 1945. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Former U.S. Marshall Sorrell Dies". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 19, 1984. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Sorrell Gets Nod for U.S. Marshal". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. July 18, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Clarke, Rod (United Press International) (1990). "Senator Esther Hartigan Sorrell". Digital Vermont. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Historical Society. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  10. ^ Blaisdell, Eric (January 2, 2021). "Sorrell picked to lead law enforcement council". Eagle Times. Claremont, NH.
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