Draft:Roscoe C. Rowe
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Roscoe C. Rowe | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Annapolis | |
| In office July 1, 1949 – January 11, 1952 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 18, 1884 |
| Died | January 11, 1952 (aged 67) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Attorney, Naval Officer |
Roscoe Conkling Rowe (August 18, 1884 – January 11, 1952) was an American naval officer, attorney, and Republican politician who served as Mayor of Annapolis from 1949 until his death in 1952.
Early life and naval career
[edit]Rowe was born in Mount Vernon, Indiana, on August 18, 1884, into a farming family. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1903 and trained as a corpsman at the Naval Hospital in Annapolis, where he met his wife, Regina Dammeyer. The couple married in 1908 and had four children, three of whom survived him. Over a 38-year naval career, he rose to the rank of warrant officer, later receiving a commission, and served in Mexico in 1914 and during World War I. He initially retired in 1934, but was recalled to active duty in 1940, serving as a lieutenant commander until retiring again in 1946.[1]
Legal and political career
[edit]While stationed in Annapolis, Rowe earned a law degree from the University of Maryland Law School in 1924 and was admitted to the bar in 1925. He established a private practice in Annapolis and served two terms as City Counselor, during which he represented the city before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1934, he was elected State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County, serving one term.[1]
Mayor of Annapolis (1949–1952)
[edit]Rowe was elected mayor as a Republican in a predominantly Democratic city. He was known for his genial personality and strong public speaking skills. During his tenure, he led the city's annexation efforts, incorporating surrounding suburban areas and extending municipal water and sewer services. In 1950, four new wards—including Eastport—were added to Annapolis. By the end of 1951, about 25 percent of the planned infrastructure had been completed.[1]
He also helped secure a $300,000 bond to construct the access road linking Route 50/301 to Annapolis, now known as Maryland Route 70, and successfully lobbied state officials for funding to build a bridge across College Creek. Work began in 1952 and was completed in 1954.[1]
Death and legacy
[edit]Rowe died of a heart attack on January 11, 1952, at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda after a prolonged illness. Despite his condition, he continued to perform mayoral duties from his hospital bed. He was buried with military honors on January 14, 1952, in a ceremony attended by Governor Theodore McKeldin, Vice Admiral Harry W. Hill, and other dignitaries.[1]
In 1957, the Annapolis City Council named the new access road "Roscoe C. Rowe Boulevard" in his honor. A proposal to rename the road in 1968 was met with strong public opposition and ultimately failed.[1]