He was the 1953 "Man of the Year," selected and cited by the advertising
Club of Baltimore, and was awarded that year's citation of the National
Conference of Christians and Jews for his accomplishments in the interests
of Brotherhood and "an enduring democracy." He also is the recipient
of the 1954 Annual Award of the National Federation of Jewish Men's
Clubs, the citation of the Massachusetts Committee of Catholics, Protestants
and Jews; the Houston (Texas) Jewish Community Council Plaque, and the
DeMolay Legion of Honor Medal.
At the Republican National Convention of 1952 in Chicago, he delivered
the address that placed the name of General Dwight D. Eisenhower in
nomination for President of the United States.
He has been named Chairman of the Rules Committee for the 1956
Republican National Convention in San Francisco.
He was Mayor of Baltimore from 1943 to 1947, and was elected Governor
of Maryland in 1950 by the largest majority ever given any candidate for
that office. He was reelected in 1954—the first member of his party ever
to win a second gubernatorial term.
A lifelong Republican, his first public position was that of Secretary to
Mayor William F. Broening of Baltimore.
As Mayor of Baltimore, he was responsible for many governmental re-
forms and improvements, including the revision and modernization of the
then antiquated City Charter. Important projects of the improvement
of the city's physical plant also were launched during his administration,
including the great Friendship International Airport, the big Patapsco
River addition to the water supply system, the new tuberculosis wing
at the City Hospitals, the Civic Center in the City Hall area which includes
the new People's Court, widespread health center and school construction.
He also inaugurated the Baltimore Plan of slum clearance which has at-
tracted considerable attention throughout the world.
His first term in the Governorship was highlighted by inauguration of a
long-range program for complete modernization and extension of the
Maryland highway system; the authorization and planning of new State
Office Buildings for Baltimore and Annapolis; replacement of the antiquated
State budget methods with the modern program system of appropriations;
reforms in purchasing, accounting and control; comprehensive and systema-
tic salary increases for public school teachers; expansion of the State system
of hospitals; inauguration of advanced methods of treatment for mental
illnesses, tuberculosis, and chronic ailments; beginning of a group of clinics
for alcoholism; adoption of Home Rule for municipalities; planning and
financing for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, now under construction as the
greatest project of engineering ever undertaken by the State.
The Governor is an Episcopalian and a Lay Reader of the Episcopal
Church. He has taught a Methodist Bible Class and has been superin-
tendent of an Episcopal Sunday School. He has preached lay sermons in
churches of many denominations from New England to Texas.
Governor McKeldin's present address is Government House, Annapolis,
Maryland.
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