Theodore McKeldin
Encyclopedia
Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin (November 20, 1900 August 10, 1974), a member of the United States Republican Party, was the 53rd Governor of Maryland
in the United States
from 1951 to 1959.
Theodore McKeldin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, attending Maryland public schools and later graduating from Baltimore City College
. He furthered his education by earning his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
in 1925 and with some graduate work at Johns Hopkins University
. McKeldin married Honolulu Claire Manzer on October 17, 1924. They had two children, Theodore, Jr. and Clara.
McKeldin challenged the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore Howard W. Jackson
in the election of 1939, but was defeated. In the election of 1942, McKeldin again challenged an incumbent, but this time it was the governor of Maryland Herbert R. O'Conor. Again, McKeldin was defeated.
However, McKeldin persisted and was elected mayor of Baltimore in 1943. As mayor, he oversaw the construction of Friendship Airport (now known as the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
). However, Baltimore saw hard times during this period following the Second World War, with the inner city decaying, ghetto
s forming, and racial prejudice
still present in government policy-making. McKeldin ran a second time for Governor in 1946, challenging William Preston Lane, Jr.
, but was defeated yet again.
McKeldin, for the third time, ran for governor in 1950. He was successful, defeating incumbent William Preston Lane, Jr. by the largest margin in state history up to that point. As governor, McKeldin endeavored to improve the state highway system, namely by establishing the Baltimore Beltway
(now I-695), the Capital Beltway
(I-495), and the John Hanson Highway
(US 50 between Washington, DC and Annapolis). He was a staunch supporter of interstate cooperation, saying once: "I rode by train
over several state borders. I carried no passports. No one asked me to identify myself. No one had the right to. This is America." He was also an advocate for civil rights for African American
s and was awarded the Sidney Hollander Award
.
In 1952 McKeldin was a major figure in the moderate Republicans of the East Coast who were instrumental in gaining the Republican nomination for president for Dwight Eisenhower. Speaking in the stentorian tones that were common for the time, McKeldin delivered the principal nominating speech for the general at the Republican National Convention.
McKeldin retired in 1959 from the governorship and returned to his law practice in Baltimore. In 1963, he returned to public service after again being elected as mayor of Baltimore, focusing on the urban renewal
of the Baltimore Inner Harbor. McKeldin served his second term as mayor until 1967. He is the last Republican mayor of Baltimore to date.
He died on August 10, 1974, and is buried in Greenmount Cemetery
.
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1951 to 1959.
Theodore McKeldin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, attending Maryland public schools and later graduating from Baltimore City College
Baltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
. He furthered his education by earning his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
in 1925 and with some graduate work at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. McKeldin married Honolulu Claire Manzer on October 17, 1924. They had two children, Theodore, Jr. and Clara.
McKeldin challenged the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore Howard W. Jackson
Howard W. Jackson
Howard Wilkinson Jackson was the Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland from 1923 to 1927 and from 1931-1943.He supported the integration of the Peabody Conservatory in 1949.-References:...
in the election of 1939, but was defeated. In the election of 1942, McKeldin again challenged an incumbent, but this time it was the governor of Maryland Herbert R. O'Conor. Again, McKeldin was defeated.
However, McKeldin persisted and was elected mayor of Baltimore in 1943. As mayor, he oversaw the construction of Friendship Airport (now known as the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the...
). However, Baltimore saw hard times during this period following the Second World War, with the inner city decaying, ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
s forming, and racial prejudice
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
still present in government policy-making. McKeldin ran a second time for Governor in 1946, challenging William Preston Lane, Jr.
William Preston Lane, Jr.
William Preston Lane, Jr. was the 52nd Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1947 to 1951.-Early life and career:...
, but was defeated yet again.
McKeldin, for the third time, ran for governor in 1950. He was successful, defeating incumbent William Preston Lane, Jr. by the largest margin in state history up to that point. As governor, McKeldin endeavored to improve the state highway system, namely by establishing the Baltimore Beltway
Interstate 695 (Maryland)
Interstate 695 is a -long full beltway Interstate Highway extending around Baltimore, Maryland, USA. I-695 is officially designated the McKeldin Beltway, but is colloquially referred to as either the Baltimore Beltway or 695...
(now I-695), the Capital Beltway
Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)
Interstate 495 is a Interstate Highway that surrounds the United States' capital of Washington, D.C., and its inner suburbs in adjacent Maryland and Virginia. I-495 is widely known as the Capital Beltway or simply the Beltway, especially when the context of Washington, D.C., is clear...
(I-495), and the John Hanson Highway
Interstate 595 (Maryland)
Interstate 595 is an unsigned number for a section of the John Hanson Highway from Interstate 495 east of Washington, D.C. to Maryland Route 70 at Annapolis, Maryland....
(US 50 between Washington, DC and Annapolis). He was a staunch supporter of interstate cooperation, saying once: "I rode by train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
over several state borders. I carried no passports. No one asked me to identify myself. No one had the right to. This is America." He was also an advocate for civil rights for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s and was awarded the Sidney Hollander Award
Sidney Hollander Award
The Sidney Hollander Award is an award given by the Sidney Hollander Foundation, Baltimore, Mary, USA, and named in honour of Sidney Hollander.-The Sidney Hollander Foundation:...
.
In 1952 McKeldin was a major figure in the moderate Republicans of the East Coast who were instrumental in gaining the Republican nomination for president for Dwight Eisenhower. Speaking in the stentorian tones that were common for the time, McKeldin delivered the principal nominating speech for the general at the Republican National Convention.
McKeldin retired in 1959 from the governorship and returned to his law practice in Baltimore. In 1963, he returned to public service after again being elected as mayor of Baltimore, focusing on the urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
of the Baltimore Inner Harbor. McKeldin served his second term as mayor until 1967. He is the last Republican mayor of Baltimore to date.
He died on August 10, 1974, and is buried in Greenmount Cemetery
Greenmount Cemetery
Green Mount Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established on March 15, 1838, and dedicated on July 13, 1839, it is noted for the large number of historical figures interred in its grounds as well as a large number of prominent Baltimore-area families...
.
Dedications
- McKeldin Center at Morgan State UniversityMorgan State UniversityMorgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
http://www.morgan.edu/students/McKeldin/index.asp - McKeldin Library and McKeldin MallMcKeldin MallMcKeldin Mall is a nine-acre area in the heart of the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. Named after Theodore McKeldin, the former Governor of Maryland, McKeldin Mall is the largest academic mall in the United States.-Description:...
at the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Facilities/Buildings/MCK - Theodore McKeldin Gymnasium at Bowie State UniversityBowie State UniversityBowie State University , is a public university located on 355½ acres in unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, north of the suburban city of Bowie. Bowie State is part of the University System of Maryland...
http://www.bowiestate.edu/bowieweb/welcome/campusmap/11.html - McKeldin Building at Springfield Hospital CenterSpringfield Hospital CenterSpringfield Hospital Center is a regional psychiatric hospital located in Sykesville, Maryland.It is operated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene through the Mental Hygiene Administration. The historic core of the hospital was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the...
- McKeldin Beltway, though still widely known as the Baltimore Beltway or Interstate 695Interstate 695 (Maryland)Interstate 695 is a -long full beltway Interstate Highway extending around Baltimore, Maryland, USA. I-695 is officially designated the McKeldin Beltway, but is colloquially referred to as either the Baltimore Beltway or 695...
- McKeldin Area, Patapsco Valley State ParkPatapsco Valley State ParkPatapsco Valley State Park is located in Maryland, USA and extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing and five developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback riding and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for...
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/mckeldin.html