Former Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer Has Died

William Donald Schaefer, who served eight years as the governor of Maryland (1987-1995), eight years as Comptroller (1999-2007) and 16 years as the mayor of Baltimore (1971-1987) died Monday. He was 89 years old.

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the death Monday afternoon.

“I join all Marylanders in mourning the loss of one of our own – Maryland’s indomitable statesman, William Donald Schaefer,” O’Malley said.

“William Donald Schaefer loved his city and his state with great exuberance because there was nothing more important to him than the people that he served with such loyalty.  From his famous ‘no excuses’ leadership style, to his celebrated public persona, William Donald Schaefer demonstrated an unrelenting drive to make Maryland a better place," he said.

"His legacy lives not merely in the buildings that bear his name, nor the statue that bears his likeness, but in the lives and hearts of all those fortunate enough to have known him and lucky enough to have been served by him.”

O’Malley directed that the former governor will lie in state in the State House in Annapolis and the Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall.  Times and dates for lying in State and funeral services will be announced.

According to the Archives of Maryland, Schaefer was born in Baltimore in 1921 to William Henry and Tululu Irene Schaefer. He graduated Baltimore City College in 1939. Schaefer was a real estate agent for a few years before returning to school to earn his law degree in 1942.

During World War II, Schaefer served as a captain in the U.S. Army (1942-1945).  Schaefer remained in the reserves until 1979, when he retired as a colonel.

After Schaefer returned to the U.S. at the end of the war, he practiced law and worked toward his master's degree in law, which he received from the University of Baltimore in 1951.

Elected office

Schaefer was first elected to the Baltimore City Council in 1955 and served on the council until he was elected city mayor in 1971. During the last four years of his city council tenure (1967-1971), Schaefer served as president.

Schaefer was Baltimore mayor for 15 years, until his election to the governor's office in 1987, where he won a landslide, 82 percent, against Republican Thomas Mooney. The win was the largest statewide total in Maryland history.

Schaefer served as governor of Maryland for the maximum tenure—two terms. During that time, Schaefer's long-time companion, Hilda Mae Snoops served as First Lady of Maryland. Snoops passed away in 1999.

After serving as governor, Schaefer ran for and won election to serve as the Comptroller of the Treasury.

In 2007, Schaefer lost the election to serve a third term as Comptroller in a three-way Democratic primary against former Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens and then-Del. Peter Franchot.

It wasn't Schaefer's first loss, however, in both 1950 and 1954, Schaefer tried for a seat in the House of Delegates.

Schaefer received 15 honorary degrees, including the President’s Medal from Johns Hopkins University, Jefferson Award for Public Service by an elected official, the Vernon Eney Award from the Maryland Bar Foundation, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Democratic Party.

Political career

Throughout his political career, Schaefer both enjoyed tremendous success and suffered bitter losses. Two initiatives that he spearheaded—the conversion of the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore from a downtrodden area to a center of commerce, and the construction of Camden Yards, are consider by many to be two of his signature successes.

On his watch as Baltimore mayor, however, the city lost both its NBA team and its NFL team. In 1973, the Baltimore Bullets basketball team moved to Washington DC and later changed their name to the Washington Wizards. In 1984, the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis under cover of night.

As governor, Schaefer pushed through initiatives to bring light rail to the state, including lines that ran to the new Camden Yards.

Although he was a lifelong Democrat, in 1992, Schaefer endorsed President George Bush over Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton.

When his successor as governor, Parris Glendening (D), was in office and Schaefer was comptroller, the two fueded vociferously—and publicly. Glendening responded by turning off the fountain that Schaefer had installed at the governor's mansion in honor of Schaefer's companion, Hilda Mae Snoops.

Schaefer died on Monday around 6:30 p.m. in his bed at the Charlestown nursing home in Catonsville, according to his longtime friend Lainy M. LeBow-Sachs.

Schaefer was released from the hospital earlier this month after a five-day stay for pneumonia. LeBow-Sachs said she did not know the official cause but said it was likely multiple "organ shutdown."

"I was with him holding his hand," LeBow-Sachs told Patch. "He couldn't speak."

"There will never be another William Donald Schaefer," LeBow-Sachs said. "I think everyone will be so incredibly sad. He was an icon. He touched everybody's life in Maryland."