Tyras S. Athey
Encyclopedia
Tyras S. "Bunk" Athey was an American
politician from Maryland
. Athey served in the Maryland House of Delegates
1967-1993 and Secretary of State of Maryland
1993-1995.
public schools. After graduating from Montgomery Blair High School
in Silver Spring in 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy
, where he served in the waning days of World War II as a corpsman aboard the USS Consolation, a hospital ship
racing
industry in the form of decreased handles and tax breaks. He was also a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1976-80; the Joint Budget and Audit Committee, 1979-90. Athey also chaired the Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference. Other committees incled: the Fiscal Affairs and Governmental Operations Committee, the Anne Arundel County Delegation, the Maryland Committee on Federal Income Tax Conformity, the Special Joint Committee on Patuxent Institution, the Special Joint Committee on Income Tax Reform, the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, the Legislative Policy Committee, the Management Subcommittee, the Spending Affordability Committee and the Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing. Athey served as the Maryland representative to the Council of State Governments.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Athey served in the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
1967-1993 and Secretary of State of Maryland
Secretary of State of Maryland
The Secretary of State of Maryland is charged with the administrative and record-keeping functions of the State Government of the U.S. state of Maryland. The Secretary of State also holds custody of the Seal of Maryland. Unlike in many states, the Secretary of State is not an elective office, but...
1993-1995.
Background
Athey was the son of the late Joseph T. (Tax) and Harriett E. Athey. Athey's parents owned and operated a country grocery store, he was born and raised in Burtonsville. His grandfather nicknamed him "Bunk" after a popular 1920s comic strip character. He attended Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
public schools. After graduating from Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery Blair High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States...
in Silver Spring in 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, where he served in the waning days of World War II as a corpsman aboard the USS Consolation, a hospital ship
In the legislature
Athey served in the House of Delegates, initially representing district 6a from 1967 to 1974. After the 1974 redistrictiing, he represented the 32nd district in Anne Arundel County, from 1975 to 1993. He was chairman of the House Ways and Means committee for nearly 10 years, from 1983 to 1993. During this time his committee passed legislation giving fiscal relief to the Maryland thoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
industry in the form of decreased handles and tax breaks. He was also a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1976-80; the Joint Budget and Audit Committee, 1979-90. Athey also chaired the Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference. Other committees incled: the Fiscal Affairs and Governmental Operations Committee, the Anne Arundel County Delegation, the Maryland Committee on Federal Income Tax Conformity, the Special Joint Committee on Patuxent Institution, the Special Joint Committee on Income Tax Reform, the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, the Legislative Policy Committee, the Management Subcommittee, the Spending Affordability Committee and the Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing. Athey served as the Maryland representative to the Council of State Governments.