Alfred J. Lipin (1920-2012)
MSA SC 3520-2721
Biography:
Born in Pasadena, Maryland, March 16, 1920. Attended Anne Arundel County public schools; University of Baltimore. Married; four children. Died April 13, 2012, in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
General Assembly:
House of Delegates, District 6A (Anne Arundel County), 1967-70; Democrat.
State Senate, District 6A, 1971-1974; District 32, 1975-1978.
Private Career and Other Public Service:
Served as sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II; promoted to
second lieutenant; awarded the Silver Star. Businessman and
real estate agent. Member, Anne Arundel County Zoning Appeals
Board, 1956-57. President, Glen Burnie Chamber of Commerce; president,
Glen Burnie Improvement Association; North Arundel Hospital Association.
Chair, Glen Burnie Centennial Committee, 1988. Member, Anne Arundel
Trade Council; Anne Arundel County Affordability Committee, 1997-98.
Member, Holy Trinity Catholic Church; Glen Burnie Civitan Club; American
Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Elks.
Personal Comments and Observations:
"...It was during his time in the Senate that perhaps the most unique
and, in retrospect, humorous event occurred. A Native American in
his district introduced Senator Lipin to a tribe of Native Americans from
Baltimore. This gentlemen's group met with Al in his Glen Burnie
office. They were interested in visiting the State Legislature and
wanted to know the procedures of how to observe a general legislative session.
Al invited them to come to Annapolis as his guest at the State House to
observe a Monday night session of the General Assembly.
"The group arrived that Monday evening and seated themselves in the balcony of the Senate chamber. As was the practice, Senator Lipin sent a note to the President of the Senate, Billy James. The President would then introduce them as the senator's guests at the appropriate time in the evening.
"Senator James later introduced all the guests that evening, including the group of Native Americans. He then discarded the note. After they were introduced, the group provided the Senate chamber with a short demonstration using the ceremonial drums they had brought. Several of Al's colleagues in the Senate made favorable comments expressing their appreciation and enjoyment of this.
"The following morning an article appeared in the newspaper about the guests and their performance in the Senate balcony. There was increased sensitivity in the nation in regards to the activities of groups of Native Americans, since the events in Annapolis had occurred a week or so after the uprising of the Indians at Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the article caught the eye of someone at the FBI. A member of the FBI visited Senator James in Annapolis on Tuesday morning. Senator James was asked to provide information about the group that had visited the session and also to produce the note that he had read. President James was unable to provide them with the information, informing the FBI that he had only read a note received from Senator Lipin. The following day the State Police came to question Senator Lipin regarding the whereabouts of this note and any other information he might have about the group and their activities. He told the troopers the note was probably thrown in the trash, where all of those notes go. There was so much importance placed on finding this otherwise insignificant paper, that the note was located on Thursday in the trash. In looking back on the events of that week, one can only imagine the manpower used for such an inconsequential event.
"The most controversial issues of Senator Lipin's political career involved the location of a new prison and a proposed oil refinery in Northern Anne Arundel County. Crown Petroleum wanted to build a refinery in the Curtis Bay area. Senator Lipin began a filibuster on a Friday night in opposition to this proposal. He received help from the other senators of Anne Arundel County. Senator Mike Miller, currently the president of the Senate, blamed Al when his wife complained about him coming home too late.
"Senator Lipin supported the construction of a prison to be located at the old Continental Can Building in Baltimore City. This bill was never passed as many felt as if no additional prison facilities were needed. Since that time several other prisons have been built in the state.
"In reflection of this time, Senator Lipin views his most significant contribution of his career as being the Glen Burnie Urban Renewal project. This included the first allocation of money for a district court building in Glen Burnie. This would become the George Taylor District Court Building. While this project began while he was a member of the Senate, improvements and changes continue in that area of Glen Burnie..."
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