William S. James
Encyclopedia
William S. James called Bill or Billy James by contemporaries, was a politician from the U.S. state
of Maryland
. James was first elected to office as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
representing Harford County
in 1946, and after serving two terms was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1954. He would serve in the Senate for a further two decades, from 1963 onwards as President of the Maryland Senate. Following his retirement from the state Senate in 1974, James was appointed State Treasurer
, a position he would hold from 1975 through 1987. His daughter, Mary-Dulany James
, is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 34A in Cecil
and Harford Counties.Also there is a great before and after program
on February 14, 1914. His primary education was diverse; he attended public schools in Cecil
and Harford
Counties before matriculating at the Tome School, a private coeducational college preparatory school in Port Deposit
. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Delaware
and, in 1937, a Juris Doctor
degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
, entering the Maryland Bar the same year. James immediately established a law practice in Bel Air, and would continue to practice law there until 1975.
He quickly rose to prominence in the legal community, and served as a trial magistrate in Havre de Grace
from 1944 to 1946, a position he left when he won election to the Maryland House of Delegates
representing Harford County. Following two terms in the House, he was elected in 1954 to represent Harford County in the Maryland Senate. In January of that same year, he married Margaret Higinbothom with whom he would have a son, Robert Roy, and a daughter, Mary-Dulany.
In 1963, James was elected by his fellow Senators to serve as President of the Maryland Senate, a position he would hold for more than a decade. This would lead to other prominent positions in state politics. He was the Second Vice-President of the 1967 Constitutional Convention
, became Chairman of the Commission to Revise the Annotated Code of Maryland in 1970, and in 1971 became Chairperson of the Maryland Democratic Party
. During his long career in the Senate, James was recognized for a number of major legislative accomplishments. He helped establish the community college system in Maryland, the Maryland Environmental Trust, and the Maryland Historical trust, and his work led to the creation of Program Open Space, a program in which real estate taxes are used to purchase parkland.
His retirement from the Senate in 1974 did not mark his exit from state politics, as the next year he was appointed by the Senate as State Treasurer
, a position to which he would be reelected in 1979 and 1983. Governor William Donald Schaefer
, who opposed James' reappointment as State Treasurer, was successful in having the Senate appoint Lucille Maurer in his place. As a result, James retired from politics, and died six years later in April 1993. He was remembered by commentators for his dedication to public service and his civility. His daughter Mary-Dulany James
, who also became a lawyer, was elected to represent district 34A in Cecil and Harford Counties in 1999. William S. James Elementary School in Harford County and the William S. James Senate Office Building in Annapolis were named in his honor even before his death.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. James was first elected to office as a member of 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...
representing Harford County
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
in 1946, and after serving two terms was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1954. He would serve in the Senate for a further two decades, from 1963 onwards as President of the Maryland Senate. Following his retirement from the state Senate in 1974, James was appointed State Treasurer
Treasurer of Maryland
The Treasurer of Maryland is responsible for the management and investment of the cash deposits, bond sale revenue, and all other securities and collateral of the state of Maryland in the United States. In addition, the Treasurer conducts regular briefings for the Maryland General Assembly and...
, a position he would hold from 1975 through 1987. His daughter, Mary-Dulany James
Mary-Dulany James
Mary-Dulany James is an American politician who represents district 34A in the Maryland House of Delegates.-Background:Delegate James was born in Baltimore, Maryland. James grew up and still lives on her family's farm in Harford County. She attended Havre de Grace High School and then traveled...
, is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 34A in Cecil
Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
and Harford Counties.Also there is a great before and after program
Biography
William S. James was born the son of E. Roy James and Mary S. James in Aberdeen, MarylandAberdeen, Maryland
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
on February 14, 1914. His primary education was diverse; he attended public schools in Cecil
Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
and Harford
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
Counties before matriculating at the Tome School, a private coeducational college preparatory school in Port Deposit
Port Deposit, Maryland
Port Deposit is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Susquehanna River near its discharge into the Chesapeake Bay...
. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
and, in 1937, a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
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...
, entering the Maryland Bar the same year. James immediately established a law practice in Bel Air, and would continue to practice law there until 1975.
He quickly rose to prominence in the legal community, and served as a trial magistrate in Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
from 1944 to 1946, a position he left when he won election to 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...
representing Harford County. Following two terms in the House, he was elected in 1954 to represent Harford County in the Maryland Senate. In January of that same year, he married Margaret Higinbothom with whom he would have a son, Robert Roy, and a daughter, Mary-Dulany.
In 1963, James was elected by his fellow Senators to serve as President of the Maryland Senate, a position he would hold for more than a decade. This would lead to other prominent positions in state politics. He was the Second Vice-President of the 1967 Constitutional Convention
Maryland Constitution
The current Constitution of the State of Maryland, which was ratified by the people of the state on September 18, 1867, forms the basic law for the U.S. state of Maryland. It replaced the short-lived Maryland Constitution of 1864 and is the fourth constitution under which the state has been...
, became Chairman of the Commission to Revise the Annotated Code of Maryland in 1970, and in 1971 became Chairperson of the Maryland Democratic Party
Maryland Democratic Party
The Maryland Democratic Party is the state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. State of Maryland, headquartered in Annapolis. The current state party chair is Yvette Lewis.-History:...
. During his long career in the Senate, James was recognized for a number of major legislative accomplishments. He helped establish the community college system in Maryland, the Maryland Environmental Trust, and the Maryland Historical trust, and his work led to the creation of Program Open Space, a program in which real estate taxes are used to purchase parkland.
His retirement from the Senate in 1974 did not mark his exit from state politics, as the next year he was appointed by the Senate as State Treasurer
Treasurer of Maryland
The Treasurer of Maryland is responsible for the management and investment of the cash deposits, bond sale revenue, and all other securities and collateral of the state of Maryland in the United States. In addition, the Treasurer conducts regular briefings for the Maryland General Assembly and...
, a position to which he would be reelected in 1979 and 1983. Governor William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from January 21, 1987 to January 18, 1995, and the Comptroller of...
, who opposed James' reappointment as State Treasurer, was successful in having the Senate appoint Lucille Maurer in his place. As a result, James retired from politics, and died six years later in April 1993. He was remembered by commentators for his dedication to public service and his civility. His daughter Mary-Dulany James
Mary-Dulany James
Mary-Dulany James is an American politician who represents district 34A in the Maryland House of Delegates.-Background:Delegate James was born in Baltimore, Maryland. James grew up and still lives on her family's farm in Harford County. She attended Havre de Grace High School and then traveled...
, who also became a lawyer, was elected to represent district 34A in Cecil and Harford Counties in 1999. William S. James Elementary School in Harford County and the William S. James Senate Office Building in Annapolis were named in his honor even before his death.