Louis L. Goldstein
Louis Lazarus Goldstein (March 14, 1913 – July 3, 1998) served as Comptroller, or chief financial officer, of Maryland from 1959 to 1998. He was born to a storekeeper in the small town of Prince Frederick, Maryland in Calvert County, and also died there. As a legislator in the General Assembly of Maryland, he was known for his 11th-hour strong arming to get votes behind closed doors. He also owned land in every county in the State of Maryland in an effort to show his commitment to the entire state. He was also a United States Marine Corps veteran, and practiced law with his wife Hazel (1917–1996). The statue of Louis L. Goldstein,[1] outside the Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building in the state capital of Annapolis, was created by Jay Hall Carpenter[2] and unveiled on April 3, 2002.[3]
Goldstein Hall at Washington College, his historic alma mater in Chestertown, Maryland, is named for him. The "Goldstein Award" at the College's annual commencement awards the graduate with the greatest potential for success in public service.
All of Maryland Route 2/4 in Calvert County is named after Goldstein, who would pronounce it in its traditional "down-shore" way: "Caww--lll ---vert County."
The Calvert County Democratic Party's annual dinner banquet is also named after Louis L. Goldstein. Goldstein deputy, Robert L. "Bobby" Swann was appointed Comptroller after Goldstein's untimely death by then-governor Parris Glendening. Former four-term Mayor of Baltimore and two-term Governor William Donald Schaefer later ran for the office of Comptroller in November 1998. (Goldstein had already announced he was running for another term before his death and would have almost certainly been re-elected even at age 85.) Schaefer, tired of being out of public office, and still popular with a wide support among the electorate, won easily.[4] Ironically, Schaefer and Goldstein sat on the Maryland Board of Public Works together when Goldstein was comptroller and Schaefer was governor. The two were not particularly close personally or professionally, although Goldstein was almost always gracious but tough at BPW meetings. Longtime Maryland Senate President Thomas V. (Mike) Miller, Jr., considers Goldstein one of the greatest politicians he has ever known. Goldstein rarely forgot a name or at least a face. His funeral was attended by a series of luminaries, including U.S. senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski, Rep. Steny Hoyer, various county executives, and other prominent public officials.[5]
His Annapolis office was taken apart piece-by-piece after his death at the guidance of his longtime friend and deputy comptroller, Swann, and was replicated at the Jefferson Patterson Park located in St. Leonard, Maryland.[6]
Quotes
"God bless y'all real good."[3]
References
- ↑ Louis L. Goldstein Statue "Louis L. Goldstein" Check
|url=value (help). Jay Hall Carpenter. 2004. Retrieved July 2, 2011. - ↑ Donna M. Cedar-Southworth. "Jay Hall Carpenter, A Glimpse at Grandeur". ChesapeakeHome. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- 1 2 Governor Parris N. Glendening Leads Unveiling of Louis L. Goldstein Statue, Maryland Department of General Services internet website, April 2, 2002
- ↑ "William Donald Schaefer". Maryland State Archives. April 19, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Over 1000 attend funeral" (TIF). The Recorder (Prince Frederick). Maryland State Archives. July 8, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum". jefpat.org. Maryland Department of Planning. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Della |
President of the Maryland State Senate 1955–1958 |
Succeeded by George Della |
| Preceded by J. Millard Tawes |
Comptroller of Maryland 1959–1998 |
Succeeded by Robert L. Swann |