Member of House of Delegates, January 8, 1975 to January 8, 2003. House Speaker, January 1994 to January 8, 2003. Co-Chair, Legislative Policy Committee, 1994-2003 (member, 1987-2003). Member, Joint Committee on Maryland Port, 1978-80; Joint Committee on Energy, 1979; Special Joint Committee on Transportation, 1981-84; Savings and Loan Oversight Committee, 1986; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 1987-94. Chair, Economic Matters Committee, 1987-94 (vice-chair, 1978-86). Co-Chair, Special Joint Committee on Economic Development Strategy, 1988-91. Member, Special Joint Committee on Energy Pricing, 1990-91; Tort and Insurance Reform Oversight Committee, 1991-93; Spending Affordability Committee, 1994-2000. Chair, Western Maryland Delegation, 1982-86. Chair, Allegany County Delegation, 1987-94. Board of Directors, National Speakers Conference, State Legislative Leaders Foundation, 2000-03.
Member, Maryland Health Care Commission, 2003-06. Executive Board, Center for American Politics and Citizenship, University of Maryland, College Park, 2003-.
Member, Commission to Study Public Service Commission Law, 1977-80; Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, 1986-2003; Citizens Advisory Board, Finan Hospital Center, 1988-; Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments, 1989-2003; Governor's Commission on Insurance, 1990-92; Maryland Tourism Development Board, 1993-2003; Government House Trust, 1994-2003; State House Trust, 1994-2003. Board of Trustees, Maryland Environmental Trust, 1995-2003. Chair, Governor's Flood Mitigation Task Force for Western Maryland, 1996-2003. Member, Task Force to Study Retail Electric Competition and the Restructuring of the Electric Utility Industry, 1997-98. Chair, Western Maryland Economic Development Task Force, 1998-2003. Member, Commission on Transportation Investment, 1999; Citizens Advisory Board for Brandenburg Center, 2000-04; Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee, 2001-02.
Member, Maryland Humanities Council, 2007-11. Chair, Public Employees' and Retirees' Benefit Sustainability Commission, 2010-12.
Born in Cumberland, Maryland, December 19, 1934. Attended Allegany County parochial schools; University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1956. Served in U.S. Air Force R.O.T.C., 1952-54. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2000. Past president, Allegany County Liquor Dealers; Dapper Dan Club; Academy of Political Science, University of Notre Dame. Member, Elks; Eagles; Alhambra; Knights of Columbus; Cumberland Hall of Fame; South Cumberland Business and Civic Association; Chamber of Commerce; Maryland Wildlife Federation. Board of Advisors, Sacred Heart Hospital. Legislator Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 1994, 2001. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Frostburg State University, 2000. First Citizen Award, Maryland Senate, 2003. Thomas Kennedy Award, House of Delegates, 2004. Married.
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