Richard B. Vail

Richard Bernard Vail (August 31, 1895 – July 29, 1955) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Vail attended the public schools, the School of Commerce, the Chicago Technical College, and the John Marshall Law School. During World War I, he served in the United States Army as a lieutenant of infantry. He then engaged in the manufacture of steel products.

Vail was elected as a Republican to the Eightieth Congress (January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1948 to the Eighty-first Congress. Vail was elected to the Eighty-second Congress (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1952 to the Eighty-third Congress and for election in 1954 to the Eighty-fourth Congress.

He served as chairman of the board of directors of the Vail Manufacturing Company of Chicago. Vail manufactured staplers, paper clips, and fasteners and was eventually acquired by Acco International in 1966.

Vail died in Chicago at age 59, and was interred in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.