HCR 172

R-207  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-207. House concurrent resolution in memory of the admired Vermont folk
singer and former Elmore Town Moderator Jon Gailmor.
                                        (H.C.R.172)
   Offered by All Members of the House
   Whereas, joyful melodies in celebration of Vermont as “a jewel in the heart of New
England” and in praise of the State’s values, freedom, strength, and specialness as a place
to call home were the hallmarks of the music of Jon Gailmor, the man some referred to as
the Pete Seeger of Vermont, and
  Whereas, Jon Gailmor studied at the Pennsylvania State University and Temple
University, earning a degree in education, and
   Whereas, having rejected a possible commercial music career, alternatively, in 1977,
Jon Gailmor relocated to Vermont, initially settling in East Montpelier, then moving
north to Elmore, and after first focusing on performances at local music clubs, Jon
Gailmor recognized that school residencies and musical collaborations with young
audiences were his true artistic calling, and
   Whereas, Jon Gailmor characterized children as “naturals in making up songs,” and
from 1979 to the early 2000s, he shared his love of creating music with them on his Just
Kidding radio show, which aired on radio stations WNCS (the Point) in Montpelier and
WDEV in Waterbury, and
   Whereas, the radio show’s name mirrored the title of his song, which featured the
lyrics “Just kidding being a kid,” and similar fun stanzas, and
   Whereas, Jon Gailmor became an avid fan of Vermont’s citizen governance process,
and in 1994, he even composed a song honoring this tradition, entitled “A Town Meeting
Tune,” and
   Whereas, his community’s great admiration was tangibly manifested when it elected
him Elmore town moderator, charging him with conducting the municipality’s annual and
special meetings’ deliberations and overseeing their parliamentary beat and rhythm, a
role he enthusiastically exercised for over 15 years until 2024, and
   Whereas, in 2022, following the death of his wife, Cathy Murphy, Jon Gailmor joined
the Montpelier Gospel Choir, in which she once sang, and in 2024, with a leukemia
diagnosis, he moved to his son’s (one of his three children’s) home in New Orleans,
Louisiana, where he died at 77 years of age on November 30, 2025, while listening to his
song “Gonna Die With A Smile If It Kills Me,” now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly extends its sincere condolences to the family of the
admired Vermont folk singer and former Elmore Town Moderator Jon Gailmor and to the
residents of the Town of Elmore, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the family of Jon Gailmor and to the Elmore Town Clerk.
                                                                            VT LEG #387187 v.1