Oscar Leslie Shepard was born in Albany, Vermont, on March 24, 1894, and was raised in Hardwick.
[3] He enlisted in the Army for World War I. Shepard served at the United States Department of War in Procurement Division of the Ordnance Corps from his February, 1918 enlistment until his January, 1919 discharge, and attained the rank of Corporal.
[4] After returning from his military service Shepard studied law with his employer, attained admission to the bar, and became a lawyer in Hardwick.
[6] In 1936 Shepard was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives and served two terms.
[7] In 1940, Shepard was an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor, losing the Republican primary to Mortimer R.