Robert N. Haskell (courtesy Maine State Archives)
Robert M. Haskell (1904-1989 ) was born in Bangor, Maine on August 24, 1904. He was educated in local schools and received a degree in engineering from the University of Maine in 1905.
Following graduation, he was employed by the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company as a design engineer and enjoyed such success that by 1958 he became the company’s President.
Elected to the Maine House of Representatives for the 1945 term, he was then elected to the Maine State Senate for five consecutive terms, serving twice as majority leader and twice as Senate President.
A skilled parliamentarian and shrewd politician, he earned the name of “Slide Rule Bob” for his ability with numbers.
On January 2, 1959 then Governor Edmund S. Muskie resigned early to take his seat in the United States Senate, giving Haskell a five-day term as Governor of Maine.
For many years, Haskell was an influential member of the University of Maine Board of Trustees and Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company and Board Chairman of the Merchants National Bank of Bangor.
Haskell died on December 3, 1989 in Bangor.
Source: Maine State Senate.
Additional resources
Bangor Daily News, December 4, 1989.
Friends of the Blaine House at http://blainehouse.org/governors(accessed April 25, 2011) (accessed April 25, 2011)