376:, determined that he wanted to do something to change the economic patterns in the county. He was known for persisting with this vision throughout his entire career of political and then civic involvement. In the late 1950s he ran for office in the Maryland House of delegates. He served there for a time before making a successful run for the Maryland State Senate. It was in the senate where his influence became sufficient to begin to leverage funding for modernization projects and also political reform for the county, moving a large number of community capitol improvements into action.
38:
393:. From this position he was able to launch the largest economic infrastructure development and modernization program in St. Mary's County's history. He is credited with playing pivotal roles in transforming the county, clearing the way significantly for the last 40 years of economic development in the county.
409:
He had not taken any direct action against the machines in the State Senate himself, although he did say years later that he never liked the slot machines, or how they affected county life. However, his political opponents were successful in convincing the majority of the county residents at the time
333:
In 1962 Raley organized a slate of candidates who ran with him to replace the County political machine that had presided over economic stagnation for decades. He was elected, and followed this with a large scale and ultimately successful campaign that he led while he was both in and out of office to
388:
As a State
Senator, Raley was largely credited with providing most of the new infrastructure that was required to economically develop St. Mary's County. According to Raley, over 100 pieces of legislation were needed to bring the schools, roads, and bridges, including the Governor Thomas Johnson
422:
Instead of retiring from politics Raley became extremely active in numerous local and regional economic development boards and commissions, as well as running his own local retail business. He also worked tirelessly for decades to get the state to expand and further develop St. Mary's
College of
544:
Raley also played many key roles in the further development of St. Mary's
College and its eventual rise to national prominence. Raley served on the board of trustees for the college from 1967 to 1991 and counseled every president of the college from then until his death in 2012.
413:
Raley remained very active in county and state politics nevertheless, sitting on many development boards and using his own influence and family connections to lobby the state legislature on the county's behalf. He continued working in this capacity for the rest of his life.
401:
Raley's elective office career was cut short when a successful smear campaign falsely accused him of attempting to directly eliminate the very popular slot machines (gambling) that were all over the county at the time. In fact he had supported a measure to forward a
507:
As a part of his effort to eliminate rural poverty in St. Mary's County, J. Frank Raley is credited with significantly expanding primary, secondary and post secondary education by securing numerous capital programs for education in the
Maryland Legislature.
493:
Raley played key roles in getting the base expanded at a time when it was facing possible closure. He also was instrumental in helping to prevent several other possible closure attempts, and helped put the base on a strong footing for long-term survival.
384:
He was very successful in the Senate a relatively short period of time, proving himself adept at politics and leveraging the state legislature to provide many key state projects to economically develop St. Mary's County and to also add new schools.
554:
355:
that had previously dominated the county through to the 1800s. The plantation system had left a legacy of huge disparities in education and income in the county. It had long depressed the development of the local
573:. In addition to the award, the college dining hall in the campus center was officially named the "Raley Great Room". An oil portrait of him hangs on the wall of the great room to honor and remember him.
363:
Consequently, long-term cycles of poverty persisted among the non-landed peoples of the county. This pattern continued into the 20th century, leaving the county's wealth concentrated in very few hands.
743:
523:. Under Raley's decades long board leadership the school then rose to national prominence, now ranked as the 5th best public college in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.
883:
410:
that he was actively working to eliminate the machines in the county. The slot machine issue generated a great deal of anger at Raley at the time, and he never again ran for office.
279:'s badly outdated infrastructure (schools, roads, bridges, telecommunications and electric services), thus paving the way for a forty-year period of economic growth and development.
1135:
1130:
1110:
527:
I consider education as the most important of all public problems. For sound progress in any community, must first develop to the fullest extent, the minds of its children.
536:
Under Raley's decades long board leadership, the school rose steadily to national prominence, becoming one of the top ranked public colleges in the United States.
582:
Raley was also instrumental in getting the state to acquire the land for Point
Lookout State Park, now a nationally recognized historic and recreation area.
360:
and had created a widespread pattern of concentrated landholdings, leaving most non-landowning county residents (both Black and White) poor and uneducated.
740:
1120:
1078:
1024:
1058:
566:
The
Maryland Senate declared Raley one of Maryland's First Citizens" in 2006. One of the most prestigious awards that a citizen of Maryland can achieve.
884:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/raley-remembered-as-chief-architect-of-modern-st-marys/2012/08/28/a864f886-f090-11e1-ba17-c7bb037a1d5b_story.html
941:
909:
591:
997:
286:
as a four-year liberal arts college and served on its board of trustees for years, guiding and advocating for the school's further development.
1125:
1140:
619:
73:
520:
452:
283:
1115:
264:
195:
313:
462:
298:
276:
55:
48:
426:
He also became very involved in promoting environmental and policy advancements for the restoration and protection of the
741:
http://www.somdnews.com/article/20120822/misc/708229670/-1/j-frank-raley-85-st-mary-s-city&template=southernmaryland
305:
and grew up in a family of politicians to include his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He grew up during the
185:
272:
125:
998:"J. Frank Raley, Jr. Passes Away - Southern Maryland News, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary's County News"
687:
882:"Raley remembered as ‘chief architect’ of modern St. Mary’s", The Washington Post, Jason Babcock, August 29, 2012,
624:
614:
519:
Raley was also instrumental in expanding the then two-year St. Mary's
Seminary Junior College into the four-year
430:
for which he was later recognized by the state of
Maryland. He continued these efforts for the rest of his life.
511:
Raley then followed this with years of ongoing, relentless education-related advocacy on behalf of the county.
443:
1082:
1028:
1055:
389:
Memorial Bridge to the county. Raley chaired the Public
Buildings Committee the entire time he served in the
596:
739:"J. Frank Raley, 85, St. Mary’s City", Southern Maryland Newspapers Online, Wednesday, August 22, 2012,
373:
320:. He also served in the United States Army during World War Two. He also was a general insurance agent.
317:
207:
945:
913:
1001:
1150:
1145:
811:
553:
Raley had a great interest in democracy and education and was also instrumental in establishing the
1076:"J. Frank Raley, Jr.: On Higher Education", The Slackwater Center, St. Mary's College of Maryland,
939:"J. Frank Raley, Jr.: On Higher Education", The Slackwater Center, St. Mary's College of Maryland,
446:
222:
597:
Maryland
Archives, includes personal account by Raley of his time in office (his Senate tenure)
352:
289:
He has been called, by area historians and newspapers, a founder of modern St. Mary's County.
1022:"J. Frank Raley, Jr. (1926 - 2012)", The Slackwater Center, St. Mary's College of Maryland,
907:"J. Frank Raley, Jr. (1926 - 2012)", The Slackwater Center, St. Mary's College of Maryland,
306:
569:
For his dedication to St. Mary's College, Raley was awarded the schools highest honor, the
406:
on the issue that would have put the decision in the hands of voters in St. Mary's County.
1062:
482:
390:
102:
995:"J. Frank Raley, Jr. Passes Away", Leonardtown MD - 8/21/2012, Baynet.com, Dick Myers,
427:
257:
1104:
747:
686:
Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series), "J. Frank Raley, Jr.", MSA SC 3520-2738,
348:
268:
357:
688:
http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/002700/002738/html/msa02738.html
485:, Raley also became a delegate to the 1967 Constitutional Convention of Maryland.
334:
bring modern development and improvements in education to the St. Mary's County.
1054:"On the Campaign Trail", The Slackwater Center, St. Mary's College of Maryland,
403:
249:
202:
17:
282:
He is also credited with getting the Maryland State Legislature to establish
1056:
http://www.smcm.edu/slackwater/onlineexhibits/JFrankRaley/Campaigning.html
256:
for education, economic development and protection and restoration of the
615:
Maryland archives, key offices and committee posts held by J. Frank Raley
302:
253:
246:
367:
312:
Raley attended parochial schools in St. Mary's County, as well as the
592:
Slackwater Journal, four biographical interviews with J. Frank Raley
812:"St. Mary's College Mourns the Passing of J. Frank Raley LexLeader"
610:
Center for the Study of Democracy, St. Mary's College of Maryland
609:
338:
Role in economic development, modernization of St. Mary's County
309:, and learned about politics through his family at a young age.
368:
Raley's dream of eliminating rural poverty in St. Mary's County
31:
471:
Southern Maryland Navy Alliance (also its first president)
497:
468:
Member, Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission, 1985–90.
604:
625:
St. Mary's County Department of Economic Development
329:
1962: Raley challenges the County Political Machine
228:
218:
213:
201:
191:
175:
154:
149:
122:
99:
88:
498:Raley's efforts to expand education in the county
991:
989:
987:
985:
983:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
791:
789:
787:
785:
783:
781:
779:
777:
775:
578:Acquisition of land for Point Lookout State Park
1079:"J. Frank Raley on Education | SlackWater"
1025:"J. Frank Raley on Education | SlackWater"
981:
979:
977:
975:
973:
971:
969:
967:
965:
963:
935:
933:
931:
773:
771:
769:
767:
765:
763:
761:
759:
757:
755:
530:
525:
458:Member, Planning and Zoning Commission, 1967–78
1072:
1070:
489:Expansion of Patuxent River Naval Air Station
245:(September 13, 1926 – August 21, 2012) was a
8:
1050:
1048:
1046:
503:Education expansion as anti-poverty measure
316:for high school and received his B.A. from
1131:Members of the Maryland House of Delegates
903:
901:
899:
897:
895:
893:
891:
878:
876:
874:
872:
870:
868:
866:
864:
862:
860:
858:
856:
854:
852:
682:
680:
678:
676:
674:
672:
670:
668:
666:
664:
662:
660:
347:St. Mary's County had long struggled with
85:
56:remove low-quality or irrelevant citations
850:
848:
846:
844:
842:
840:
838:
836:
834:
832:
658:
656:
654:
652:
650:
648:
646:
644:
642:
640:
74:Learn how and when to remove this message
1136:Education in St. Mary's County, Maryland
463:Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland
439:Maryland Economic Development Commission
1111:People from St. Mary's County, Maryland
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
715:
636:
275:and is widely credited for modernizing
126:Maryland House of Delegates
713:
711:
709:
707:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
605:St. Marys College of Maryland website
532:- J. Frank Raley, Jr., 26 April 1962
7:
515:Transformation of St. Mary's College
455:Board of Trustees from 1966 to 1991
434:Key post-legislative positions held
130:from the St. Mary's County district
107:from the St. Mary's County district
942:"J. Frank Raley | Slackwater"
910:"J. Frank Raley | Slackwater"
25:
555:Center for the Study of Democracy
549:Center for the Study of Democracy
372:Raley, while still in college at
810:Hoyer, Steny (August 22, 2012).
481:After losing re-election to the
465:, 1967–88 (also its co-founder)
36:
314:Charlotte Hall Military Academy
1121:St. Mary's College of Maryland
521:St. Mary's College of Maryland
453:St. Mary's College of Maryland
284:St. Mary's College of Maryland
1:
49:excessive number of citations
1141:Georgetown University alumni
273:Maryland House of Delegates
171:Park Hall Estates, Maryland
1167:
477:St. Mary's City Commission
1126:St. Mary's City, Maryland
816:The Lexington Park Leader
571:Order of the Ark and Dove
540:Board of trustees service
236:
186:St. Mary's City, Maryland
145:
134:
111:
95:
444:Lexington Park, Maryland
1116:Maryland state senators
1061:August 8, 2014, at the
557:at St. Mary's College.
514:
534:
529:
337:
271:, and a member of the
374:Georgetown University
318:Georgetown University
229:Years of service
208:Georgetown University
159:John Frank Raley, Jr.
620:Countytimes.somd.com
474:Patuxent Partnership
243:John Frank Raley Jr.
447:Chamber of Commerce
27:American politician
1004:on August 25, 2012
746:April 4, 2014, at
599:scroll down to see
351:, a legacy of the
223:United States Army
169:September 13, 1926
90:J. Frank Raley Jr.
1085:on August 8, 2014
1031:on August 8, 2014
948:on March 23, 2014
916:on March 23, 2014
461:Member-at-large,
442:President of the
353:plantation system
299:St. Mary's County
277:St. Mary's County
240:
239:
84:
83:
76:
16:(Redirected from
1158:
1095:
1094:
1092:
1090:
1081:. Archived from
1074:
1065:
1052:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1027:. Archived from
1020:
1014:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1000:. Archived from
993:
958:
957:
955:
953:
944:. Archived from
937:
926:
925:
923:
921:
912:. Archived from
905:
886:
880:
827:
826:
824:
822:
807:
750:
737:
690:
684:
451:Chairman of the
418:After the Senate
307:Great Depression
214:Military service
182:
168:
166:
150:Personal details
139:
128:
116:
105:
86:
79:
72:
68:
65:
59:
40:
39:
32:
21:
1166:
1165:
1161:
1160:
1159:
1157:
1156:
1155:
1101:
1100:
1099:
1098:
1088:
1086:
1077:
1075:
1068:
1063:Wayback Machine
1053:
1044:
1034:
1032:
1023:
1021:
1017:
1007:
1005:
996:
994:
961:
951:
949:
940:
938:
929:
919:
917:
908:
906:
889:
881:
830:
820:
818:
809:
808:
753:
738:
693:
685:
638:
633:
588:
580:
563:
551:
542:
517:
505:
500:
491:
483:Maryland Senate
436:
420:
399:
391:Maryland Senate
382:
370:
345:
340:
331:
326:
297:He was born in
295:
192:Political party
184:
180:
179:August 21, 2012
170:
164:
162:
161:
160:
140:
135:
129:
124:
117:
112:
106:
103:Maryland Senate
101:
91:
80:
69:
63:
60:
53:
47:may contain an
41:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1164:
1162:
1154:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1103:
1102:
1097:
1096:
1066:
1042:
1015:
959:
927:
887:
828:
751:
691:
635:
634:
632:
629:
628:
627:
622:
617:
612:
607:
602:
594:
587:
586:External links
584:
579:
576:
575:
574:
567:
562:
559:
550:
547:
541:
538:
516:
513:
504:
501:
499:
496:
490:
487:
479:
478:
475:
472:
469:
466:
459:
456:
449:
440:
435:
432:
428:Chesapeake Bay
419:
416:
398:
395:
381:
378:
369:
366:
344:
341:
339:
336:
330:
327:
325:
322:
294:
291:
258:Chesapeake Bay
238:
237:
234:
233:
230:
226:
225:
220:
219:Branch/service
216:
215:
211:
210:
205:
199:
198:
193:
189:
188:
183:(aged 85)
177:
173:
172:
158:
156:
152:
151:
147:
146:
143:
142:
132:
131:
123:Member of the
120:
119:
109:
108:
100:Member of the
97:
96:
93:
92:
89:
82:
81:
44:
42:
35:
26:
24:
18:J. Frank Raley
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1163:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1108:
1106:
1084:
1080:
1073:
1071:
1067:
1064:
1060:
1057:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1043:
1030:
1026:
1019:
1016:
1003:
999:
992:
990:
988:
986:
984:
982:
980:
978:
976:
974:
972:
970:
968:
966:
964:
960:
947:
943:
936:
934:
932:
928:
915:
911:
904:
902:
900:
898:
896:
894:
892:
888:
885:
879:
877:
875:
873:
871:
869:
867:
865:
863:
861:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
843:
841:
839:
837:
835:
833:
829:
817:
813:
806:
804:
802:
800:
798:
796:
794:
792:
790:
788:
786:
784:
782:
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
764:
762:
760:
758:
756:
752:
749:
748:archive.today
745:
742:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
726:
724:
722:
720:
718:
716:
714:
712:
710:
708:
706:
704:
702:
700:
698:
696:
692:
689:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
671:
669:
667:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
637:
630:
626:
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
601:
600:
595:
593:
590:
589:
585:
583:
577:
572:
568:
565:
564:
560:
558:
556:
548:
546:
539:
537:
533:
528:
524:
522:
512:
509:
502:
495:
488:
486:
484:
476:
473:
470:
467:
464:
460:
457:
454:
450:
448:
445:
441:
438:
437:
433:
431:
429:
424:
417:
415:
411:
407:
405:
396:
394:
392:
386:
379:
377:
375:
365:
361:
359:
354:
350:
349:rural poverty
342:
335:
328:
323:
321:
319:
315:
310:
308:
304:
300:
292:
290:
287:
285:
280:
278:
274:
270:
269:State Senator
266:
261:
259:
255:
251:
248:
244:
235:
231:
227:
224:
221:
217:
212:
209:
206:
204:
200:
197:
194:
190:
187:
178:
174:
157:
153:
148:
144:
138:
133:
127:
121:
115:
110:
104:
98:
94:
87:
78:
75:
67:
57:
51:
50:
45:This article
43:
34:
33:
30:
19:
1087:. Retrieved
1083:the original
1033:. Retrieved
1029:the original
1018:
1006:. Retrieved
1002:the original
950:. Retrieved
946:the original
918:. Retrieved
914:the original
819:. Retrieved
815:
598:
581:
570:
552:
543:
535:
531:
526:
518:
510:
506:
492:
480:
425:
421:
412:
408:
400:
387:
383:
380:State Senate
371:
362:
358:labor market
346:
332:
311:
296:
288:
281:
262:
242:
241:
181:(2012-08-21)
136:
113:
70:
64:January 2021
61:
54:Please help
46:
29:
1151:2012 deaths
1146:1926 births
1105:Categories
1089:August 27,
1035:August 27,
1008:August 22,
952:August 27,
920:August 27,
631:References
423:Maryland.
404:referendum
343:Background
293:Early life
250:politician
203:Alma mater
196:Democratic
165:1926-09-13
821:August 8,
263:He was a
232:1945–1946
141:1955–1959
137:In office
118:1963–1966
114:In office
1059:Archived
744:Archived
303:Maryland
265:Democrat
254:advocate
247:Maryland
252:and an
561:Honors
397:Defeat
324:Career
1091:2014
1037:2014
1010:2012
954:2014
922:2014
823:2023
267:, a
176:Died
155:Born
1107::
1069:^
1045:^
962:^
930:^
890:^
831:^
814:.
754:^
694:^
639:^
301:,
260:.
1093:.
1039:.
1012:.
956:.
924:.
825:.
167:)
163:(
77:)
71:(
66:)
62:(
58:.
52:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.