J. Millard Tawes

John Millard Tawes ( born April 8, 1894 in Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, † June 25, 1979 ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and 1959-1967 Governor of Maryland.

Early years and political rise

Millard Tawes attended the public schools in Somerset County and then to 1912 the Wilmington Conference Academy in Dover (Delaware). Then he studied the accounting profession and the banking business at Sadlers, Bryant and Stratton Business College. After school Tawes was initially in the timber trade, banking and shipbuilding works, before he went into politics.

From 1930 to 1938 he was employed in the administration of the District Court in Somerset County. Between 1938 and 1947, and again from 1950 to 1959 he was head of the Court of Maryland. From 1947 to 1950 he was a bank officer ( State Bank Commissioner) in that State. In 1946 he failed in the primaries of his party as he strove whose nomination as the leading candidate for the gubernatorial elections.

Governor of Maryland

On November 4, 1958 Millard Tawes was elected Governor of Maryland. He took up his new post on January 14, 1959, and was for a re-election in 1962 until January 25, 1967 remain in office. During this time, among other things, the ministries of economic and industrial development have been created in Maryland. In addition, an agricultural advisory body created ( Agricultural Advisory Board). The school system of the State was reformed and improved, and the expansion of the road driven on. It was then repealed a law that racial segregation in public facilities. Gambling machines were banned under Governor Tawes in Maryland. As Governor Tawes also promoted environmental protection. The number of state parks has been doubled. During his tenure, the constituencies in the state were re-divided.

Further CV

After the end of his term Tawes was from 1967 to 1968 a delegate to a conference to revise the state constitution. In 1969 he became the first head of a department which dealt with the natural resources of Maryland ( Department of Natural Resources ). In this office to Tawes sat again for environmental protection in the exploitation of mineral resources. Between 1973 and 1975 Tawes officiated as Minister of Finance (State treasurer ) of Maryland. This was his last public office. He died in June 1979. Together with his wife Helen Avalynne Gibson he had two children.