Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Gloria Gary Lawlah
MSA SC 3520-12153

Biography:

Born in Newberry, South Carolina, March 12, 1939, second daughter of Eugene Calvin Gary and Erline Guess Gary.  Attended Hampton University, B.S.; Trinity College, M.A.; George Washington University.  Married; three children.

General Assembly:
House of Delegates, District 26 (Prince George's County), 1987-1991; Democrat. Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1987-91; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1987-91.

State Senate, District 26 (Prince George's County), 1991 to 2007; Democrat. Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2001-07. Member, Budget and Taxation Committee, 1995-2007 (capital budget subcommittee, 1999-2007; chair, health & human services subcommittee, 2003-07, member, 2001-07; chair, health, education & human resources subcommittee, 1997-99; chair, public safety, transportation & environment subcommittee, 2000). Member, Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee, 1991-94; Joint Committee on Investigation, 1991-2007; Joint Legislative Work Group on Community College Financing, 1994-95; Special Joint Task Force on Transportation, 1995; Executive Nominations Committee, 1995-2000; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 1996, 2003; Spending Affordability Committee, 1997-2000; Joint Audit Committee, 1998-2007; Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, 1998-2007; Senate Committee on Redistricting, 2001-02; Legislative Policy Committee, 2001-03; Special Commission on Legislative Prayer, 2003; Joint Committee on the State's Emergency Medical Response System, 2003-05. Senate Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Protocol, 2003-07. Chair, Prince George's County Delegation, 2004-07 (vice-chair, 2001-03). Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (formerly Maryland Legislative Black Caucus), 1999-2007 (chair, international affairs committee, 2001-07; member, state budget committee, 2000, judicial nominating committee, 2000-07, redistricting committee, 2000-07, historically black colleges & universities committee, 2001-07). Member, Women Legislators of Maryland, 1991-2007 (member at large, executive board, 2001-02; 2nd vice-president, 2002-03; president, 2003-04). Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (economic development, trade & cultural affairs committee).

Private Career and Other Public Service:
Secretary of Aging, March 20, 2007 to January 15, 2015. Acting Secretary of Aging, February 7, 2007 to March 20, 2007. Member, Governor's Executive Council, 2007-15. Chair, Statewide Empowerment Zones for Seniors Commission, 2007-09; Mental Health Transformation Working Group, 2007-11; Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2007-14; Interagency Committee on Aging Services, 2007-15; Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities, 2007-15. Member, Task Force to Study the Feasibility of Developing Urban Senior Care Communities in Baltimore City, 2007-08; Interagency Disabilities Board, 2007-15; State Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation, 2007-15; Governor's Workforce Investment Board, 2007-15; Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention, 2009-15; Health and Human Services Referral Board, 2010-15; Maryland Veterans Trust, 2013-15. Chair, Commission on the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, 2013-15. Member, Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2014-15. Task Force to Ensure Retirement Security for All Marylanders, 2014-15. Maryland Integrated Map Executive Committee, 2009-12. Chair, Maryland Communities for a Lifetime Commission, 2010-11. Member, Maryland Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission, 2012.

Member, Government Review Task Force for Public Safety, Prince George's County (co-chair, 1982). Member, Advisory Committee for Educational Block Grants, 1992-94; Child Care Administration Advisory Council, 1992-95; Woodrow Wilson Bridge Improvement Study Coordination Committee, 1992-96; U.S. 301 South Corridor Transportation Study Task Force, 1993-96; Sound Barrier Review Panel, 1995-96; Council on Management and Productivity, 1995-97; Maryland School Performance Assessment Program Review Panel, 1997-; Task Force to Study the Governance, Coordination, and Funding of the University System of Maryland, 1998-99; State Interagency Coordinating Council [for Infants and Toddlers Program], 1998-2000; Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, 1999-2002; Task Force to Study College Readiness for Disadvantaged and Capable Students, 2000-01; Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia Joint Legislative Commission on Interstate Transportation, 2000-03; Governor's Commission to Study Poverty in Maryland, 2001-03; Commission on Aging, 2002-07; Task Force on Child Welfare System Accountability, 2003-04; CommunityChoice Advisory Group, 2004-05; Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology, 2004-07; Auto Insurance Task Force to Study Rates in Urban Areas, 2005; Mental Health Transformation Working Group, 2005-07; Video Lottery Facility Location Commission, 2011. Past member, National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Teacher and Administrator, District of Columbia public schools, 1965-95. Federal Liaison, Office of External Relations, Bowie State University, 1995-2007. Member, National Hook-up of Black Women; National Council of Negro Women (life member); National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Alpha Kappa Alpha; Public Access Cable Corp., 1980-85; Coalition on Black Affairs, 1980-90; Family Crisis Center, 1982-84. Member, Hillcrest-Marlow Planning Board, 1982-90. Member, National Political Congress of Black Women, 1984-90; Prince George's County Alliance of Black Elected Officials; National Association of Minority Political Women; Center for the Aging, Greater SE Community Hospital Foundation, 1985-87. President, Prince George's County Chapter, The Links, Inc., 2006-. Chair, Board of Directors, Women in Government, 2006-. Member, Oxon Hill Democrats; John Hanson Women's Democratic Club; Black Democratic Council. Member, Democratic State Central Committee, 1982-86. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004. Prince George's County Women's Hall of Fame, 1991. Edgemeade Honor for Outstanding Service to Maryland Youth and Families, 1999. Citizen of the Year, Prince George's County Board of Trade, 2000. Champion Against Oral Cancer, University of Maryland Medical System, 2001. Award of Excellence, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 2002. Honor for Building the Bridge to Educational Excellence in Maryland's Public Schools, State Board of Education, 2002. Humanitarian Award, University of Maryland Dental School, 2003. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2004. Legislator of the Year, Health Facilities Association of Maryland, 2006. Inducted in the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame, 2023.

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