![[photo, William Donald Schaefer, Maryland Comptroller]](/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/images/1198-1-971c.jpg)
WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER (1921-2011)
Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, 1971-86.
Governor of Maryland, January 1987 to January 1995. Chair, Board of Public Works, 1987-95. Board of Trustees, Maryland Environmental Trust, 1987-95. Member, Maryland Veterans Home Commission, 1987-95. Member, Appalachian Regional Commission, 1987-95; Chesapeake Executive Council, 1987-95; Education Commission of the States, 1987-95; Interstate Mining Commission, 1987-95; Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, 1987-95; Southern Regional Education Board, 1987-95; Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1987-95.
Member, Board of Trustees, St. Mary's College of Maryland, 1995-2011; Board of Visitors, Towson University, 1995-2011. Chair, Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000, 1997-2000. Board of Directors, Maryland African American Museum Corporation, 1998-2001. Member, Western Maryland Economic Development Task Force, 1998-2002.
Comptroller of Maryland, January 25, 1999 to January 22, 2007.
Member, Board of Public Works, 1999-2007. Member, State Use Industries Advisory Committee, 1999; Maryland Higher Education Investment Program Board, 1999-2003; State Information Technology Board, 1999-2004; Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, 1999-2007; Banking Board, 1999-2007; Board of State Canvassers, 1999-2007; Capital Debt Affordability Committee, 1999-2007; Commission on State Debt, 1999-2007; Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority, 1999-2007; Maryland Food Center Authority, 1999-2007; Hall of Records Commission, 1999-2007; Maryland State Employees Surety Bond Committee, 1999-2007; Board of Revenue Estimates, 1999-2007. Chair, Board of Trustees, State Retirement and Pension Systems, 2002-07 (member, 1999-2007). Chair, Task Force to Study the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, 2003. Member, Task Force to Study the Financial Impact of Retired Military Service Personnel on the Economy of the State, 2003; College Savings Plans of Maryland Board, 2003-07; Governor's Task Force on Centralized Bidder Registration for Minority Business Procurement, 2004-05; Task Force on the Exemption of Law Enforcement Officers' Pensions from Taxation, 2004-05; State Planning Committee for Higher Education, 2004-07; Task Force to Study Retiree Health-Care Funding Options, 2005; Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments, 2005-07; Advisory Committee on the Naming of State Facilities, Roads, and Bridges, 2005-07; Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Retiree Health-Care Funding Options, 2006-07.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 2, 1921. Attended Baltimore public schools; Baltimore City College; University of Baltimore School of Law, LL.B., 1942. Served in U.S. Army (World War II). Colonel (ret.), U.S. Army Reserve. President, Maryland Association of Counties, 1980. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 1988, 1992. Honorary Co-Chair, Baltimore City Historical Society, 2002-. Jefferson Award-Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, American Institute for Public Service, 1979. Distinguished Public Service Award, Brandeis University, 1984. Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, American Medical Association, 1989. Schools for Success Lifetime Achievement Award, State Department of Education, 1999. Baltimore's Most Influential, Baltimore Business Journal, 1999. Golden Rule Award, J. C. Penney, 1999. Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, B'nai B'rith, 2000. Revisionary Award, Revisions Foundation, 2000. Louis V. Koerber Patriotism Award, National Flag Foundation, 2000. Glenn I. Kirkland Award, Alzheimer's Association, 2000. Spirit of Public Relations Award, Maryland Chapter, Public Relations Society of America, 2000. Award, Maryland Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition, 2001. Award for Charitable and Continuous Support, Greater Baltimore Area Salvation Army, 2001. President's Award, Preservation Maryland, 2002. Leadership Award, Maryland Tourism Industry, 2002. Speaker's Medallion, House of Delegates, 2002. National Award of Merit, Board of Governors, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 2003. Governor's Award for International Leadership, World Trade Institute, 2003. Leadership Award, Maryland's County Engineers, 2003. First William Donald Schaefer Tourism Award, Department of Business and Economic Development, 2003. Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 2003. Friend of Maryland Education, Citigroup and State Department of Education, 2003. Ann Miller Partnership Award, Maryland Food Bank, 2003. Educational Award, Learning for Life Division, Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2003. Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 2004. First Citizen Award, Maryland Senate, 2007. The Order of the Ark and the Dove, St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2007. Died in Catonsville, Maryland, April 18, 2011.
Governor Schaefer was a life-long Maryland resident, born in West Baltimore on November 2, 1921 to William Henry and Tululu Irene Schaefer. He was educated in Baltimore's public schools and graduated from Baltimore City College in 1939. Mr. Schaefer received his law degree in 1942.
Mr. Schaefer's legal career was put on hold by the entry of the United States into World War II. He joined the U.S. Army, achieved officer rank, and took charge of administering hospitals in England and Europe. Following his tour of duty, he remained in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring in 1979 with the rank of Colonel.
After the war, Mr. Schaefer resumed his legal career, practicing real estate law. He earned a Master of Law degree in 1954 from the University of Baltimore School of Law and formed a general practice law firm with two colleagues. His concern for city planning and housing in the City propelled him to a seat on the Baltimore City Council in 1955.
In 1967, Mr. Schaefer ventured into citywide politics by running successfully for President of the Baltimore City Council. Four years later, he also ran successfully for Mayor, serving four consecutive terms until he was elected Governor in 1986.
Former Governor Schaefer held the Schaefer Chair at the University of Maryland's School of Public Affairs in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Policy Studies. He was actively involved in a project to revitalize the Hampden area of Baltimore, working with interns from Hopkins. Before his election as Comptroller, Mr. Schaefer was Of Counsel at the law firm of Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander, LLC, in downtown Baltimore. In 1997, Governor Parris N. Glendening appointed Schaefer as Chair of the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000, the State's official agency to plan and implement an observance of the millennium.
Former Governor Schaefer also was involved with many civic and charitable organizations and served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, as well as State and local colleges.
He was the recipient of fifteen honorary degrees; the President's Medal, Johns Hopkins University; the Jefferson Award for Public Service by an elected official; the Vernon Eney Award, Maryland Bar Foundation; and the Distinguished Service Award, Maryland Democratic Party.
© Copyright Maryland State Archives