Members of the Senate,
Distinguished Guests,
Over the past three years, with the help of the State Archives, we have begun what I hope will be a long-standing tradition for the Senate: the presentation of the
Here to tell us more about the historical importance of Charles Carroll of Carrollton and the significance of the First Citizen Award Is Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse, Archivist of the State of Maryland.
In honor of those public and private citizens who have so effectively emulated the career of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and who have carried on the tradition of public service that he so well exemplified, it is my great pleasure to make this year's First Citizen Award to not one, but two people, who have dedicated their lives to making government work for the benefit of all.
As a token of our appreciation, each honoree will receive a handsomely boxed volume like this one, containing Charles Carroll of Carrollton's First Citizen essays.
I would like to ask Senator Charles H. Smelser to join me here.
Senator Smelser served in this body for seven consecutive terms beginning in 1966. Prior to that he served two terms in the House of Delegates.
Fred Malkus once called 'Buck' "the tightest man in the legislature." His reputation is legion for being independent, and for keeping a watchful eye on the public purse. There are many of us who credit him with successfully saving the state's triple 'A' bond rating by his persistent efforts to cut government waste and to limit public spending. He was forever demonstrating that rare quality in a public servant. He knows how to say 'no.'
A native of Uniontown Maryland, Senator Smelser attended the University of Maryland College Park, and served as a B 17 fighter pilot in the Army Air Corp in World War II. A farmer and a banker by trade, the Baltimore SUN called him "the embodiment of the citizen-legislator." It is a distinct honor and a privilege to present him with this First Citizen Award.
[pause for applause, let Senator Smelser say a few words in response, then ask Dr. Richardson to join you on the podium]
Our next honoree is Dr. William Richardson, President of the Johns Hopkins University.
We present this First Citizen Award to Dr. Richardson with a sense of deep appreciation for all that he has done for the State of Maryland in higher education, community development, and health care.
Dr. Richardson took over a university in financial trouble and in just five short years has placed it on a firm road to recovery. At a time when the humanities are struggling for survival he has provided strong leadership in building an endowment for the faculty of Arts and Sciences. His Johns Hopkins Initiative is already almost half the way to its $900 million dollar goal. He has stressed interdisciplinary collaboration, international outreach, and has successfully sought to enhance the diversity of the student body, the faculty, and the staff.
While doing all this he as taken the time to help East Baltimore win a much needed federal Empowerment Zone grant, and has contributed immeasureably to solving the Health Care issues confronting not only Maryland, but the Nation. He and the task force that he has chaired have provided us with a steady flow of good advice on ways to expand health insurance coverage and contain spiraling medical costs. It is with regret that we see him leaving Hopkins, but we know that in his new position as President of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation he will continue to contribute enormously to solving the many problems we face in higher education, community development, and health care.
It is with great pleasure and pride that I present you with this token of our appreciation, the First Citizen Award of the Maryland Senate.
[Dr. Richardson responds; on to next order of business]
August 1995
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