Harry Hughes

Harry Roe Hughes
Governor Hughes speaking at Fort Belvoir, February 1988
57th Governor of Maryland
In office January 17, 1979 – January 21, 1987
Preceded by	Marvin Mandel
Succeeded by	William Donald Schaefer
Born	November 13, 1926 (1926-11-13) (age 82) Easton, Maryland
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Patricia Donoho
Children	Ann and Elizabeth
Religion	Episcopalian

Harry Roe Hughes (born November 13, 1926), a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 57^th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1979 to 1987.

Early life and family

Born in Easton, Maryland, Hughes attended Caroline County, Maryland, Public Schools before attending the Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. After school, Hughes served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during the Second World War.

After the War, Hughes continued his education by attending Mount Saint Mary's University and the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1949. He received his law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1952 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar the same year. Hughes has been married to his wife, Patricia Donoho Hughes, since June 30, 1951. They have two daughters, Ann and Elizabeth.

Prior to his election as governor, Hughes was an attorney and one-time professional baseball player in the Eastern Shore Baseball League.^{[citation needed]} From 1966–1970, Hughes was the chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee.

Political career

Hughes began his political career as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1955–1959, representing Caroline County. He was elected a member of the Maryland Senate in 1959 for district 15, representing Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties. In 1971, Hughes was offered and accepted the position of Secretary of Transportation for the state. In 1978, however, Hughes resigned from his position because of a disagreement in the State Department of Transportation regarding the construction of a subway in Baltimore City.

Rural voters criticize his tenure in the legislature for casting a deciding vote that ended the practice of allowing for at least one state senator or delegate per county. As of 2008, no General Assembly Member has been elected from Hughes' native Caroline County for thirteen consecutive years.

Hughes was elected governor in 1978 after defeating Acting Governor Blair Lee III. Among other things, Hughes was a strong advocate for the Chesapeake Bay. He signed into law such legislation as the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, which set into motion efforts to protect the Bay from pollution and excessive hunting.

Also during his administration, Maryland foreign trade with China was initiated. The Savings and Loan crisis, involving the failure of many savings and loan organizations across the United States hit Maryland near the end Hughes' tenure, but nevertheless steps were taken to insure Maryland savings and loans organizations. Hughes served two terms and concluded his governorship in 1987.

Post-governor career

Following his tenure as governor, he was a member of the Chesapeake Bay Trust from 1995–2003; a member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland from 1996–2000; the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Citizens Pfiesteria Commission in 1997; the chairman of the Maryland Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission from 1999–2003; and a member of the Committee to Establish the Maryland Survivors Scholarship Fund from 2001–2002.

He published an autobiography in 2006.

References

• Harry R. Hughes biography. December 9, 1998. Maryland State Archives. accessed October 25, 2004. [1]