Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

W. Garrett Larrimore
Anne Arundel County Court Clerk, 1972-1982
MSA SC 3520-13107

Biography:

Walter Garrett Larrimore was born on July 19, 1922.1  He was the son of Walter Eugene and Nannie Burton Lewis Larrimore and together the family lived on Larrimore Point in Edgewater.2  This land had been occupied by the Larrimore family since before the Revolutionary War, but it was not patented as such until the 1930s.3  Garrett, as he was called, attended public school in the county.  After graduating from high school, he went to Fleet Business School and then to the University of Maryland.4  In 1943 Larrimore took part in the war effort, but just before he left he married Thayer Anne Blay on February 20, 1943.  They would later have four children:  Walter Garret, Jr., Richard Deal, Thayer Anne (Larrimore) Manis, and Lisa Jean.5

Larrimore served in the meteorological service of the Army Air Corps in the Near East, ranking as a Sergeant.6  When he returned to the states in 1946, he began studies at the University of Maryland Law School.  He graduated in 1949 and began practicing law in 1952, specializing in real estate title work.7  His first political effort was in 1958 when he successfully ran for a seat in the House of Delegates.  He was re-elected in 1966.  While serving in the legislature, he was a member of the House Judiciary Committee and also attended the Democratic State Convention.  His next political attempt was not as successful as his run for the House, for in 1966 he lost the election for a seat in the Maryland Senate.8

Larrimore's interest in the law continued.  He served on the Maryland Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures and was President of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association.  In 1972 he was appointed Clerk of the Court after Marjorie S. Holt resigned from the position to serve in the U.S. Congress.  Larrimore was elected to a full four-year term as Clerk in 1974 and then re-elected in 1978.  He had much experience in the records office which was quite helpful in fulfilling his duties as Clerk.  He instituted many procedural and operational changes, helping the Clerk's annual revenue increase from five million dollars a year to fifteen million.  While serving as Clerk, he also served on the Regional Criminal Justice Planning Program of the Governor's Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.9  Among all of his many accomplishments, Larrimore was also named Boss of the Year by the National Secretaries Association in 1974.  In his spare time, Larrimore liked to hunt, fish, and collect decoys.  He was a member of the South Arundel Lions Club, Ducks Unlimited, Annapolis Yacht Club, and served as vice-president of the Maryland State Jaycees.  He belonged to Calvary United Methodist Church on Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis.10

Larrimore died on August 9, 1982 from cancer.11  Joseph F. Foster became acting Clerk to finish out the rest of Larrimore's term.  Larrimore's funeral was held at Calvary United Methodist Church and the burial was at the family plot on Larrimore Point.12

Endnotes

Biographical Profile-

Born - July 19, 1922 (dc)

Family - (red)son of Walter Eugene and Nannie Burton Lewis Larrimore; brother - William Sellman (1917-19); born, raised, died on Larrimore Point  in Edgewater (land occupied by his fam since pre-Rev War, not patent until 1930s) (mem)

Education - Fleet Business School, University of Maryland (mem); Univ of MD Law School - graduated 1949 (obit)

Occupation - practiced law beginning in 1952

Married - Thayer Anne Blay, who was one year his senior, on Feb 20, 1943(red); children:  Walter Garrett, Jr., Richard Deale, Thayer Anne (Larrimore) Manis, and Lisa Jean (red)

Military Service - WWII, Sergeant in meteorological service of Army Air Corps in Near East (obit) '43-'46 (mem)

Political Highlights - obit

1958, House of Delegates - elected to the House of Delegates in 1958 and again in 1966; served on House Judiciary Committee

Democratic State Convention

1966, MD Senate Election - ran for a Senate seat, but lost race

Maryland Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures

1972, Clerk of the Circuit Court - appointed after Marjorie S. Holt resigned the seat to serve in the U.S. Congress; Regional Criminal Justice Planning Program of the Governor's Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (mem)

1974, Clerk of the Circuit Court - in this year Larrimore was elected to the office for a full four-year term; re-elected in 1978; instituted many procedural and operational changes, seeing the Clerk's revenue increase from annual five million dollars/year to 15.

Extras - obit

-liked to hunt and collect decoys
-South Arundel Lions Club, Ducks Unlimited, AYC, VP MD State Jaycees, president of AA Co. Bar Association
-Calvary United Methodist Church, Rowe Blvd.
-Boss of the Year by National Secretaries Association, 1974

Death - died on August 9, 1982 from cancer while still in office; funeral at Calvary U.M. Church and burial at Larrimore Point obit

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