STEPHEN C. TERRY 1942-2025
IN MEMORIAM …
Steve dedicated his life to the good of the state. Born in Vermont in 1942, Steve spent much of his youth working at his grandparent’ s farm, instilling in him a love of Vermont’ s agricultural heritage and its people.
Steve’ s extensive knowledge of Vermont and his commitment to working for the good of everyone made him a trusted advisor to many leaders. In 1969, Senator George Aiken recruited him to work as a legislative aide in the U. S. Senate, where he became Aiken’ s lead staffer for the Senate Foreign Relations and Agriculture committees. Later, Steve authored the book Say We Won and Get Out, which details how Aiken became a leading critic of the war in Vietnam.
Writing and bringing people into history and current events, was a thread throughout Steve’ s long career. Steve went on to become a journalist, where he opened the Burlington Bureau of the Rutland Herald and Times Argus newspapers, and then became founding editor of their Sunday editions. He became the managing editor of the Rutland Herald in 1977, which was subsequently recognized as one of the best small-city dailies in the country.
In 1985, Steve joined Green Mountain Power, where as a senior vice president he focused on community engagement, and encouraging environmentally and socially responsible practices that strengthened the state and helped customers.
Steve was actively involved in numerous community organizations. That work was recognized in 2014 when he was named Vermont Citizen of the Year by the Vermont State Chamber of Commerce.
Stephen writing the book on Senator Aiken( photo courtesy of Faith Terry)
STEPHEN C. TERRY 1942-2025
The Vermont Writers’ Prize was created in 1988 by Stephen C. Terry when he was at Green Mountain Power. Steve wanted to encourage Vermonters to write and be creative as well as provide a place where stories about the state he loved could be told. Steve took great joy over the years in reading the stories and poems both professional and amateur writers submitted about his favorite subject – Vermont.
Sadly, Steve passed away in July 2025.
In his later years, Steve was often found in his home office, built on the foundation of an old chicken coop, writing about Vermont history and politics, or on television offering political commentary. Or you might find him in the fields caring for his beloved belted cows.
Steve is remembered by those who knew him as a brilliant and sensitive person who cared deeply for Vermont and Vermonters. Former Governor Howard Dean wrote,“ His knowledge of Vermont is extraordinary, as is his dedication to the people of the State of Vermont.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning editor from the Rutland Herald, David Moats, said:“ It was Steve’ s great quality as a citizen of Vermont that, no matter whom he was representing, the good of the state was always the backdrop of our conversations.”
At Vermont Magazine, we recognize Steve’ s many contributions to the vitality and culture of Vermont. He celebrated our brave little state in all he did, especially with the written word, and we honor him and his lasting legacy. n
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