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{{Short description|American politician (1936–2019)}}
{{Infobox State Representative
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|04|16}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|04|16}}
| birth_place =[[Chestertown, Maryland|Chestertown]], [[Maryland]]
| birth_place =[[Chestertown, Maryland]]
| residence = Kennedyville, Maryland<ref name="obituary" />
| residence = [[Kennedyville, Maryland]]<ref name="obituary" />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|06|13|1936|04|16}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|06|13|1936|04|16}}
| death_place =Kent County MD
| death_place =[[Kent County, Maryland]]
| state_delegate = Maryland
| state_delegate = Maryland
| district = 36th
| district = 36th
Line 18: Line 19:
| preceded2= [[Benjamin L. Cardin]]
| preceded2= [[Benjamin L. Cardin]]
| succeeded2= [[Casper R. Taylor Jr.]]
| succeeded2= [[Casper R. Taylor Jr.]]
| constituency = [[Caroline County, Maryland|Caroline]], [[Cecil County, Maryland|Cecil]], [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent]], [[Queen Anne's County|Queen Anne's]], and [[Talbot County, Maryland|Talbot]] Counties, Maryland
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
| occupation = Farmer/Businessman
| occupation = Farmer, businessman
| majority =
| majority =
| relations =
| relations =
| spouse = Marie Mathilde Whitsitt (March 26,1937-Dec 10, 2017) (m. 1958)
| spouse = {{marriage|Marie Whitsitt|1958|2017|end=d.}}
| children = 3 sons, 6 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren<ref name="obituary" />
| children = 3 sons<ref name="obituary" />
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''R. Clayton 'Clay' Mitchell Jr.''' (April 16, 1936 – June 14, 2019) was an American politician and the [[Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates|Speaker]] of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] in the [[United States]].<ref name=MSAbio>{{cite web|title=R. Clayton Mitchell Jr.|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013300/013343/html/13343bio.html|work=Biographical Series|publisher=Archives of Maryland|accessdate=7 May 2014}}</ref>
'''R. Clayton 'Clay' Mitchell Jr.''' (April 16, 1936 – June 13, 2019) was an American politician and the [[Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates|Speaker]] of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] in the [[United States]].<ref name=MSAbio>{{cite web|title=R. Clayton Mitchell Jr.|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013300/013343/html/13343bio.html|work=Biographical Series|publisher=Archives of Maryland|accessdate=7 May 2014}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
Line 33: Line 33:


==Political career==
==Political career==
In 1962, Mitchell won a seat on the Democratic Central Committee in Kent County Maryland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roy Clayton Mitchell Jr. |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/kent_county_news/obituaries/roy-clayton-mitchell-jr/article_daaad6f3-ffb4-5872-97ce-f3da6cf1ceb8.html |accessdate=July 5, 2019 |work=[[Kent County News]] |date=June 19, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In the 1966 elections, Mitchell won a seat on the [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent County]] Commissioners. He was President of the Kent County Commissioners for 4 years. Four years later (1970), he won election to the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] representing District 36, which spreads across the northern Eastern Shore between the [[Delaware]] state line and the [[Chesapeake Bay]]. He became chair of the Eastern Shore delegation in 1974, and a decade later took over as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. In 1987, after the election of the previous [[Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates]], [[Benjamin L. Cardin]], to Congress, Mitchell was elected by his colleagues to serve as Speaker. He held the position until his retirement in 1994.<ref name=MSAbio />
In 1962, Mitchell won a seat on the Democratic Central Committee in [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent County]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Roy Clayton Mitchell Jr. |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/kent_county_news/obituaries/roy-clayton-mitchell-jr/article_daaad6f3-ffb4-5872-97ce-f3da6cf1ceb8.html |accessdate=July 5, 2019 |work=[[Kent County News]] |date=June 19, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In the 1966 elections, Mitchell won a seat on the Kent County Board of Commissioners. He was President of the Board of County Commissioners for 4 years. Four years later (1970), he won election to the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] representing District 36, which spreads across the northern Eastern Shore between the [[Delaware]] state line and the [[Chesapeake Bay]]. He became chair of the Eastern Shore delegation in 1974, and a decade later took over as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. In 1987, after the election of the previous [[Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates]], [[Benjamin L. Cardin]], to Congress, Mitchell was elected by his colleagues to serve as Speaker. He held the position until his retirement in 1994.<ref name=MSAbio />


==Retirement==
==Retirement==
After retiring from the House of Delegates, Mitchell continued to be actively involved in his community. He chaired both the Save Our [[skipjack (boat)|Skipjack]]s Task Force<ref>{{cite web |title=Skipjacks Task Force, Maryland Save Our |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/defunct/html/32skip.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |accessdate=June 16, 2019 |date=September 29, 2015}}</ref> and the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celebration 2000, Maryland Commission for |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/defunct/html/06cel.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |accessdate=June 16, 2019 |date=February 15, 2019}}</ref> In addition, he was a Director of the Second National Bank of Maryland and a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of [[Washington College]].<ref name=MSAbio /> In 2008, the R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Kent County Government Center in [[Chestertown, Maryland|Chestertown]] was dedicated to Mitchell.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Jacques |title=R. Clayton Mitchell, former Maryland House Speaker, dies at 83 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/obituaries/bs-md-ob-clayton-mitchell-20190614-story.html |accessdate=June 14, 2019 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Kent Narrows Bridge]] on [[U.S. Route 50 in Maryland|US 50]]/[[U.S. Route 301 (Maryland)|US 301]] was also dedicated in his name.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Combs |first1=Hannah |title=Kent Narrows Bridge dedicated to R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/kent_county_news/news/regional/kent-narrows-bridge-dedicated-to-r-clayton-mitchell-jr/article_8d8b873c-b713-56b5-9171-f8c051ecbfa0.html |accessdate=June 14, 2019 |work=[[Kent County News]] |date=May 24, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Mitchell died on June 14, 2019.<ref name="obituary" />
After retiring from the House of Delegates, Mitchell continued to be actively involved in his community. He chaired both the Save Our [[skipjack (boat)|Skipjack]]s Task Force<ref>{{cite web |title=Skipjacks Task Force, Maryland Save Our |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/defunct/html/32skip.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |accessdate=June 16, 2019 |date=September 29, 2015}}</ref> and the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celebration 2000, Maryland Commission for |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/defunct/html/06cel.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |accessdate=June 16, 2019 |date=February 15, 2019}}</ref> In addition, he was a Director of the Second National Bank of Maryland and a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of [[Washington College]].<ref name=MSAbio /> Mitchell died on June 13, 2019.<ref name="obituary" />
== Legacy ==
In 2008, the R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Kent County Government Center in [[Chestertown, Maryland|Chestertown]] was dedicated to Mitchell.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Jacques |title=R. Clayton Mitchell, former Maryland House Speaker, dies at 83 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/obituaries/bs-md-ob-clayton-mitchell-20190614-story.html |accessdate=June 14, 2019 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Kent Narrows Bridge]] on [[U.S. Route 50 in Maryland|US 50]]/[[U.S. Route 301 (Maryland)|US 301]] was also dedicated in his name.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Combs |first1=Hannah |title=Kent Narrows Bridge dedicated to R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. |url=https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/kent_county_news/news/regional/kent-narrows-bridge-dedicated-to-r-clayton-mitchell-jr/article_8d8b873c-b713-56b5-9171-f8c051ecbfa0.html |accessdate=June 14, 2019 |work=[[Kent County News]] |date=May 24, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In October, 2019, the Comptroller of Maryland established the R. Clayton Mitchell Award for Distinguished Public Service to recognize officials at all levels of government for exceptional public service.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Franchot |first1=Peter |authorlink1=Peter Franchot |url=https://www.facebook.com/peterfranchot/photos/a.193567594080634/2239601502810556/ |website=Facebook |accessdate=October 18, 2019 |title=Peter Franchot |language=en |date=October 18, 2019}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:County commissioners in Maryland]]
[[Category:County commissioners in Maryland]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Maryland House of Delegates]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Maryland House of Delegates]]
[[Category:Maryland Democrats]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly]]

Latest revision as of 02:45, 2 December 2024

R. Clayton Mitchell Jr.
104th Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office
1987–1994
Preceded byBenjamin L. Cardin
Succeeded byCasper R. Taylor Jr.
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 36th district
In office
1971–1994
Personal details
Born(1936-04-16)April 16, 1936
Chestertown, Maryland
DiedJune 13, 2019(2019-06-13) (aged 83)
Kent County, Maryland
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Marie Whitsitt
​
​
(m. 1958; died 2017)​
Children3 sons[1]
ResidenceKennedyville, Maryland[1]
OccupationFarmer, businessman

R. Clayton 'Clay' Mitchell Jr. (April 16, 1936 – June 13, 2019) was an American politician and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States.[2]

Background

[edit]

Mitchell was born in Chestertown on Maryland's Eastern Shore in 1936. He served in the United States Army before entering public service in the 1966 elections.[2]

Political career

[edit]

In 1962, Mitchell won a seat on the Democratic Central Committee in Kent County.[3] In the 1966 elections, Mitchell won a seat on the Kent County Board of Commissioners. He was President of the Board of County Commissioners for 4 years. Four years later (1970), he won election to the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 36, which spreads across the northern Eastern Shore between the Delaware state line and the Chesapeake Bay. He became chair of the Eastern Shore delegation in 1974, and a decade later took over as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. In 1987, after the election of the previous Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Benjamin L. Cardin, to Congress, Mitchell was elected by his colleagues to serve as Speaker. He held the position until his retirement in 1994.[2]

Retirement

[edit]

After retiring from the House of Delegates, Mitchell continued to be actively involved in his community. He chaired both the Save Our Skipjacks Task Force[4] and the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000.[5] In addition, he was a Director of the Second National Bank of Maryland and a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of Washington College.[2] Mitchell died on June 13, 2019.[1]

Legacy

[edit]

In 2008, the R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Kent County Government Center in Chestertown was dedicated to Mitchell.[1] In 2018, the Kent Narrows Bridge on US 50/US 301 was also dedicated in his name.[6] In October, 2019, the Comptroller of Maryland established the R. Clayton Mitchell Award for Distinguished Public Service to recognize officials at all levels of government for exceptional public service.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Kelly, Jacques (June 14, 2019). "R. Clayton Mitchell, former Maryland House Speaker, dies at 83". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "R. Clayton Mitchell Jr". Biographical Series. Archives of Maryland. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Roy Clayton Mitchell Jr". Kent County News. June 19, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  4. ^ "Skipjacks Task Force, Maryland Save Our". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 29, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "Celebration 2000, Maryland Commission for". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. February 15, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Combs, Hannah (May 24, 2018). "Kent Narrows Bridge dedicated to R. Clayton Mitchell Jr". Kent County News. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Franchot, Peter (October 18, 2019). "Peter Franchot". Facebook. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
Preceded by Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
1987–1994 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=R._Clayton_Mitchell_Jr.&oldid=1260689645"