USM Chancellor William E. "Brit" Kirwan's Statement on the Passing of The Honorable William Donald Schaefer
On behalf of the Â鶹´«Ã½, I express
our collective sadness over the passing of Baltimore mayor, Maryland governor,
Maryland state comptroller, and my good friend William Donald Schaefer.
Governor Schaefer was a "public servant" in the truest sense
of that phrase. He dedicated his life to others, with literally more than
half-a-century of service. He served his country in the United States Army
during World War II; he served his native Baltimore on the city council and as
mayor; and he served the people of Maryland as governor and comptroller.
But greater still than his commitment to service was his
impact. At a time when so many who serve in public office become diminished,
Governor Schaefer was larger than life.
From the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, to his visionary efforts to
protect the Chesapeake Bay, his influence-driven by his "Do It Now"
approach-continues to reverberate throughout Maryland.
Of course, Governor Schaefer was also the architect of the
Â鶹´«Ã½ (USM) as we know it today. It was Governor
Schaefer who called for the establishment of a single public higher education system,
through the merger of the former University of Maryland and its five campuses
with Maryland's system of six state comprehensive colleges and universities.
And it was Governor Schaefer who gave the USM our mandate of achieving
"National Eminence," which continues to guide our efforts today. Finally, it
was Governor Schaefer who followed through on these efforts with significant
support for the Â鶹´«Ã½.
Governor Schaefer's support for higher education and the USM
will continue to shine brightly, thanks to the Schaefer Internship Program at
the University of Maryland College Park's School of Public Policy, the Schaefer
Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore, the Schaefer
Engineering Building at Morgan State University, Schaefer Hall at St. Mary's
College of Maryland, and the William Donald Schaefer Scholarship Program. We
have lost a great friend, but we will never lose the impact of his commitment
to public service and the advancement of the quality of life in Maryland.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
