Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Tributes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tributes. Show all posts

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Dayhoff Time Flies - Maryland State Police Major (Retired) Krome, 79, of Carroll County

Dayhoff Time Flies - Maryland State Police Major (Retired) Krome, 79, of Carroll County

Sunday, June 23, 2019 by Kevin E. Dayhoff

On Monday, June 10, 2019, Maryland State Police Major (Retired) Morris (Moe) L. Krome, 79, of Carroll County, passed away at Carroll Hospice Dove House. Krome was the husband of Carolyn Dudley Krome for 55-years. Together they owned a farm in rural Carroll County where they trained show horses.

Krome was the unofficial Dean Emeritus of Maryland Troopers and considered by many to be an icon of the discipline, professionalism, excellence and intelligence that we have come to know as the Maryland State Police (MSP) since its earliest beginnings in 1921.

For decades Krome held court at a small table at the VFW with his lifelong friend, Special Drug Enforcement Administration, (DEA) Agent (Retired) Tim Clark, the first Monday of every month at the monthly meeting of the Maryland Troopers Association (MTA) Lodge 20.

Read more here: https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/columnists/features/cc-lt-dayhoff-062319-story.html

https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff/posts/10216717247057135

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Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

Facebook Dayhoff for Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/
Facebook: Kevin Earl Dayhoff: https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff

Dayhoff for Westminster: www.kevindayhoff.info
Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net
Dayhoff Carroll: www.kevindayhoff.org
Kevin Dayhoff Time Flies: https://kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/  

Sunday, March 10, 2019

A tribute to the passing of 4 great Carroll countians who made a difference: Haddad McDonald Schaeffer Law


A tribute to the passing of 4 Carroll countians

10Mar2019 by Kevin Dayhoff

https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff/posts/10215983059342901

Seems that my Sunday article in the Carroll County Times is not online. Makes me sad. The good news is that the paper printed the long version. The story may be accessed in the digital edition – find it here: http://tinyurl.com/4GR8CCians

The year 2019 has hardly begun and already the march of time has not been kind for a number of older, distinguished Carroll countians.

Among the folks who have made a difference in the community, whom we have lost in the first two months of the year are: • Richard Haddad, 77, who died Thursday, January 31, 2019. • David McDonald, 68, a former pharmaceutical representative and owner of Westminster Rare Coins who died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. Bobbye Schaeffer, 93, of the Schaeffer Lumber Company family in Westminster, died Friday, February 15, 2019 at Lorien Nursing and Rehab Center in Taneytown. • Dr. Alton Law, 85, of Westminster died Tuesday, February 19, 2019 from complications related to a rare neurological disease.

For now, until the story is posted online – you can read it in the digital edition: http://digitaledition.carrollcountytimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=71f79254-b725-40a7-9515-18ad93192e5b&fbclid=IwAR2Ei6OWXOJIr2U4oTbGC_spIxxuEguiDJfKVuORDewEzc64R9sz__AkgV4

The “Life&Times” section of the Carroll County Times may be found here: http://digitaledition.carrollcountytimes.com/html5/mobile/production/default.aspx?pubid=b45ee690-df4b-4d65-9c5f-583e98fcc731

https://wordpress.com/block-editor/post/kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/1014



https://dayhoffwestminster.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-tribute-to-passing-of-4-great-carroll.html

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Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

Facebook Dayhoff for Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/
Facebook: Kevin Earl Dayhoff: https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff

Dayhoff for Westminster: www.kevindayhoff.info
Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net
Dayhoff Carroll: www.kevindayhoff.org
Kevin Dayhoff Time Flies: https://kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/  

John H. Cunningham was a charter member of the Md. State Fireman’s Assoc.

John H. Cunningham was a charter member of the Md. State Fireman’s Assoc.

 

At the time of his death, Cunningham “was believed to be McDaniel - Western Maryland College's oldest living alumnae… and the State's only living charter member of the Maryland State Fireman's Association

 

When John Cunningham died, he was America's Oldest Banker in Years of Continuous Service. He was a lifelong member of the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose co. No. 1.

 

February 24, 2019 by Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. No 1 Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff

 

It is only fitting and appropriate that from time to time we take a moment to remember some of the many great Carroll Countians that have gone before us.

 

On December 31, 1965, John Cunningham passed away within a few hours of 99th birthday. Local historian Jay Graybeal wrote of “his rich life, including his interests in bicycling, walking and poker,” in a March 16, 1997 column in the Carroll County Times.

An earlier shorter version of this story appeared in the Carroll County Times on January 13th, 2019. Please find the article here: https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/columnists/features/cc-lt-dayhoff-011319-story.html. This version of a story about Mr. Cunningham is the long version with all the edits restored.

Finding a picture of Mr. Cunningham has been nearly impossible – except, I did finally find a picture of him at the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 - although the picture was damaged by the April 6, 1906 H. H. Harbaugh's Palace Livery Stable fire. The livery stable and residence was located next to the Fire House on East Main St in Westminster. The fire, which destroyed the huge building, also burned a portion of the Westminster fire station and the Westminster city offices that were located on the second floor of the station.

To put 1965 and the mid-1960s into some perspective, our country was just beginning a new phase of the Vietnam War; with the introduction of the first combat troops on February 9, 1965. Before we had, “advisors” engaged in the conflict. Later in the year, on November 14, the Battle of the Ia Drang began in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It was the first major engagement of the war between regular American and North Vietnamese forces. Shortly afterwards, the pentagon told President Lyndon Johnson that the number of troops needed to be increased from 120,000 to 400,000.

At home, the Civil Rights movement was on the forefront of many as around 1965 was the last year that restaurants and such were segregated in Westminster. Malcolm X was assassinated in New York at the Audubon Ballroom on February 21.

Bloody Sunday had occurred on March 7 as 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police with billy clubs and tear gas. Led by Martin Luther King, Jr. civil rights marchers were finally successful, after three attempts, to walk from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama. On August 6, President Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

It was 1964 that Carroll County administrator George Grier went to New York to begin negotiations with Random House to build a book distribution center in Westminster. At that time in the negotiations, adequate supplies of water was a sticking point, among many issues that were subsequently ironed out before the facility opened on July 14, 1967, according to “From Our Front Porch,” a history of Carroll County from 1900-1999, by Jim Lee.

And oh in 1964 ice cream cost 89 cents per half gallon

Graybeal shared with us Cunningham’s obituary, which appeared on January 1, 1966, in an unidentified newspaper. The obituary began: "John H. Cunningham, believed to have been the oldest banker in the United States, died yesterday at his home… His wife, the former Mary Irwin, died in 1949… He was a past master of the Masonic order and was a member of the Westminster Church of Christ.”

Cunningham was born on New Year’s Day in 1867. According to his obit, “On January 1, 1885, while a senior at Western Maryland College, Mr. Cunningham began his banking career as a clerk with the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank, [at 105 E. Main St. in Westminster] following the footsteps of his father William, who was a clerk there.”

He worked in the same office, with the same employer for his entire life – from 1885 until when he passed away in 1965. “Many days he walked the mile to work from his home at 95 West Green Street.” 

Graybeal reported; “His long career in banking was recognized by a telegram from President Kennedy in 1963.” 

The telegram said: "Congratulations on being named by your friends and associates in Westminster and Carroll County as "America's Oldest Banker in Years of Continuous Service." Your 77 years record as a banker is certainly an impressive one and you deserve all the honors, which have been given you…”

He was well-known for his punctuality and folklore attests that “fellow employees reportedly set their watches by him,” as he would arrive at his desk “every working day promptly at 9 a.m. and would not leave until 3 in the afternoon…” It was also noted “that Mr. Cunningham had not missed a town meeting in Westminster since 1883, the year he became old enough to vote.

Cunningham played poker every Tuesday night between 7 and 11 p.m. sharp, at “Thelma Hoffman's restaurant at 216 E. Main Street [later known as Cockey’s Tavern] in Westminster.” Among his partners were Ben Thomas, Paul Whitmore, Miller Richardson, Ralph Bonsack, Frank Leidy, Theodore Brown and Norman Boyle.”

Cunningham was also well known for his New Year’s Day tradition of an all day poker game, “that began promptly at 11 a.m., broke for dinner at 5 p.m., then resumed until 11 p.m.”

At the time of his death, Cunningham “was believed to be Western Maryland College's oldest living alumnae… and the State's only living charter member of the Maryland State Fireman's Association.”

The January 1, 1966 obituary reported that: “Cunningham's interest in politics was rewarded during the Coolidge Administration with his appointment in 1923 as Surveyor of Customs at Baltimore, a post he held for nine years. In 1911, Mr. Cunningham ran unsuccessfully for State Comptroller.”

“Beside politics and poker, Mr. Cunningham loved walking. On weekends as late as 1964, he hiked along country roads, a white handkerchief tied to his cane, for safety.”

When he was 97 years old, he explained in a November 1964 interview: "I only walk half as far and about half as fast as I used to… It's a strain to walk more than 4 or 5 miles…"

“In his earlier days… [he] was a bicyclist of renown… According to a banker's association bulletin, in 1898 he bicycled 200 miles from Westminster to Atlantic City, N.J…” He waited to give up driving until he was approximately 92 years old.

In full disclosure, I met Cunningham in the early 1960s upon the occasion of one of his visits to City Hall to talk with City of Westminster Mayor Joseph L. Mathias who served on the Westminster Common Council May 1927 to May 1937 and Mayor from May 18, 1942 to December 3, 1963. To the best of my knowledge, I have only written about Cunningham a couple of times. Most notably, a portion of this column was previously published in 2006.

Carroll County is fortunate to have many great community leaders still with us. We should all take time to pause and thank them for their service to our community – whether we agree with them or disagree. 

Every one of them is working hard to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. In 2019, may we all work hard to rekindle a renewed sense of civility and have as full and vigorous a life as Mr. John Cunningham – playing poker, bicycling and walking many four or five miles is optional. God Bless and Happy New Year. 




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Westminster, Maryland, Cunningham, history, MSFA, 

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Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

Facebook Dayhoff for Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/
Facebook: Kevin Earl Dayhoff: https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff

Dayhoff for Westminster: www.kevindayhoff.info
Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net
Dayhoff Carroll: www.kevindayhoff.org
Kevin Dayhoff Time Flies: https://kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/  

Monday, January 30, 2017

Our community lost a number of distinguished community leaders in 2016


Our community lost a number of distinguished community leaders in 2016  http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2017/01/our-community-lost-number-of.html

Dayhoff: Carroll made great by many who have recently passed away

By Kevin Dayhoff January 27, 2017 Our community lost a number of distinguished community leaders in 2016. http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/columnists/features/history/ph-cc-dayhoff-012917-20170127-column.html

Recently, a number of us gathered to trade stories and pay our respects to Woody Swam at the Eckhardt Funeral Chapel in Manchester.

[…]

“An old African proverb says, "When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground." This winter I have attended more funerals than I care to recall. Many of the folks were in their 80s or 90s. Community leaders, who by their sacrifice, hard work, and endeavor, helped make Carroll County what it is we enjoy today. In their passing, they take volumes of history with them…”

[…]

Our community lost a number of distinguished community leaders in 2016. Folks such as T. Bryan McIntire, who passed away on Dec. 16 at age 86. McIntire served as the Carroll County state's attorney from 1962 to 1970.

Dave Schaeffer, 96, died on Dec. 20. After Schaeffer served in the Army during World War II, he started the Schaeffer Lumber Company in 1946 with his dad, and his brother.

“My Westminster High School class of 1971 classmates Bob Hyer and Doug Menchey died in 2016. Menchey worked for many folks in Carroll County with the Menchey Construction Company. Hyer was a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy…”

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Friday, January 27, 2017

Numerous reports indicate that Joseph F. Steffen, died unexpectedly this morning.


Very sad to learn that my colleague at the keyboard, political operative and author, Joseph F. Steffen, died unexpectedly this morning.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Steffen family at this very difficult time.

What a legend. Joe earned the nickname, the Prince of Darkness, while doing oppositional political research during the administration of Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich. Before and after his tenure with Representative – and then, Gov. Ehrlich, he ran a number of political campaigns. I enjoyed many conversations with Joe when I was a statehouse reporter. We did not always agree, but he was always a perfect gentleman and I always felt he was always straight with me. We will miss his take on everything from writing, to pop culture, to music, and of course, politics. https://darknessrevisited.wordpress.com/ Rest in Peace. 
*****

Sunday, October 02, 2016

At a wonderful memorial service celebrating the life of Dorothy J. "Dottie" Whitson


At a wonderful memorial service celebrating the life of Dorothy J. "Dottie" Whitson, April 17, 1921 - Sept. 23, 2016. Born in Gunter India, she along with her husband, Pastor Stanley Whitson, were a critical part of the foundation of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster for many years. God bless her for service to our community. Sun. Oct. 2, 2016.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Maryland State Police Line of Duty Death: On March 25, 1998, Trooper Raymond Armstead


Maryland State Police Line of Duty Death: On March 25, 1998, Trooper Raymond Armstead, 27 years old and a 14 month veteran of the Maryland State Police died in a car crash while on duty. http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/maryland-state-police-line-of-duty.html

On March 25, 1998, Trooper Raymond Armstead, 27 years old and a 14 month veteran of the Maryland State Police was operating his patrol vehicle northbound on I-295, south of Powder Mill Road in Prince George's County when he observed someone on the shoulder of the road waving their arms for assistance.

Realizing there had been an accident, Trooper Armstead attempted to cross the lanes of traffic to assist the stranded motorists. As Trooper Armstead focused on the shoulder activity, the traffic ahead of him stopped. Trooper Armstead's patrol car collided with a van that was stopped in front of him causing him to become trapped in his vehicle for approximately 30 minutes. Once extracted, Trooper Armstead was flown to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where he was pronounced dead shortly before 3:00 pm
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 



Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/


Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net



Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/

Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Saturday, March 21, 2015

Carroll County fire fighter and EMS provider Robin Chenoweth passed away


Arrangements for Robin Chenoweth were just announced…Viewing Monday with services Tuesday morning. http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/carroll-county-fire-fighter-and-ems.html


Update, Saturday afternoon, March 21, 2015: Funeral arrangements for Robin Chenoweth have just been announced… It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Firefighter/Paramedic Robin Chenoweth.

Viewings will be held at Sykesville FD on Monday 3/23 from 1400-1600 and 1800-2000 with a Fire Dept Memorial Service at 1900hrs. Funeral Service will be Tuesday 3/24 at Sykesville FD at 1000hrs with a procession to the Church in Gamber for interment. A lunch-in will follow at Gamber FD. 

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Carroll County fire fighter and EMS provider Robin Chenoweth passed away http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/03/carroll-county-fire-fighter-and-ems.html

Friday, March 20, 2015

Sadly, I just heard that Carroll County fire fighter and EMS provider Robin Chenoweth passed away at 3:20 pm. She was surrounded by family and friends. Details on arrangements will be posted once finalized... We are all so sad and will miss our friend dearly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and our colleagues. Photo by Richard Koons Photography

In this picture from July 12, 2009, Robin Chenoweth checks on the welfare of a firefighter at an early morning apartment fire at 500 Robin’s Way in Westminster. Photo by Kevin E. Dayhoff http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2009/07/early-morning-westminster-fire-sends.html
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 



Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/


Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net



Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/

Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Saturday, January 03, 2015

Don Surber: American Vignettes, 2014

Don Surber: American Vignettes, 2014:

http://donsurber.blogspot.com/2014/12/american-vignettes-2014.html#more

Don Surber: "American Vignettes, 2014
My series on exceptional Americans -- American Vignettes -- has been a joy to write. The series will continue in 2015 with even more Great Americans.

I began with James Knox Polk on November 2. I strive to be accurate. Please continue to correct me by email DonSurber@gmail. Several readers wonder how I find these stories. I use a process called magic. My criteria for an entry is whether the person interests me. The woman who saves a flower from extinction is as interesting as a president. A couple have been written and discarded. I almost deleted the post on Melville Dewey due to his anti-Semitism, but I figured that was geeky ignorance more than hate. Everyone is flawed, and we are all sinners..."

http://donsurber.blogspot.com/2014/12/american-vignettes-2014.html#more

'via Blog this'

*****

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Don Surber: Leland Stanford: After the Gold Rush

Don Surber: Leland Stanford: After the Gold Rush:

Wednesday, December 31, 2014 by Don Surber

 Leland Stanford: After the Gold Rush

My American Vignettes series on exceptional Americans takes a look at Amasa Leland Stanford, the merchant to the gold miners who became a railroad tycoon, governor, U.S. senator, and founder of Stanford University.

 The urban legend holds that a haughty secretary sneered at two country bumpkins who wanted to see the president of Harvard. The couple told him their son had attended Harvard for a year, and had died in an accident. They wanted to build a memorial to him.

The secretary said Harvard could not erect memorials to every student, so the couple went home to California and founded Stanford.

That story is bogus. The real account is more heartbreaking...  http://donsurber.blogspot.com/2014/12/leland-stanford-after-gold-rush.html

'via Blog this'
*****

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Obituary for the The Honorable Jerry Francis Barnes, 66 of Westminster

Obituary for Jerry Francis Barnes

The Honorable Jerry Francis Barnes, 66, of Hampstead, Maryland died Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Carroll Hospital Center.



Labels:  

See also: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2014/11/we-mourn-passing-of-late-carroll-county.html

See also: We mourn the passing of the late Carroll County Md. State’s Attorney Jerry Barnes 

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2014/11/we-mourn-passing-of-late-carroll-county.html

Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry Barnes - Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-1207-20141202-story.html

Born October 9, 1948, he was the son of the late Charles A. and Mary R. Byers Barnes. He was the devoted husband of Florence J. Barnes and loving step father of Jenna B. Wilmot and husband, Chris, of Cockeysville. He is also survived by his Aunt, Sandra Cook, cousins, Gregory Hutsell, Jeffrey Hutsell and Jennifer Freeman, all of Westminster.

Mr. Barnes graduated from Westminster High School in 1966, and after working a short period at Bendix Field Engineering, he was drafted into the US Army in 1968. In 1969, he qualified as a Green Beret, after which he served in Vietnam as a member of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). After receiving two Bronze Stars (one for “Heroism in Ground Combat”), the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), and being Honorably discharged in 1971, he attended and graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School.

He was thereafter a career prosecutor serving both with Frederick County State's Attorney's Office and Carroll County State's Attorney's Office. He was distinguished as Chief Narcotic's Prosecutor for Frederick County from 1991 through 1994. From 1995 until present, Mr. Barnes served as the elected State's Attorney for Carroll County, Maryland.

Since becoming a prosecutor in 1978, Mr. Barnes personally prosecuted thousands of criminal cases. He also oversaw a busy office comprised of 54 staff members - all responsible for successfully prosecuting criminal, juvenile and traffic cases in Carroll County's three courts. Mr. Barnes devoted his entire working career to helping his community.

Over the decades, he helped others both professionally and personally, many times when they did not even know it. Among some of his initiatives, he spearheaded and implemented the Heroin Action Coalition and established a position specifically designated to prosecute Domestic Violence cases.

Mr. Barnes was a specialist in drug enforcement serving as Chief Narcotics Prosecutor and actively prosecuting numerous drug distribution and other serious drug felony and misdemeanor charges. He attended and graduated from the Drug Enforcement Administration Agent's Course and the Maryland State Police Undercover Drug Course. He was sworn in as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland to prosecute drug cases.

Throughout his legal career, he received a multitude of awards for his hard work, leadership and dedication to the citizens of Carroll County and the State of Maryland. Highlights of the numerous awards and accolades he received include but are not limited to the following:

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, Certificate of Recognition- In recognition of “Exemplary Performance, Initiative and Commitment in Fostering and Preserving Public Safety Within the District of Maryland” (1999);
Named Chief Narcotics Prosecutor;
U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate of Appreciation, 1994;
Maryland Troopers Association Lodge #20 Endorsement;
Carroll County, Maryland Marine Cadet Corps Commander Award;
Maryland State Fire Marshall, Certificate of Appreciation for “Outstanding Leadership and Commitment to Protecting the Citizens of Carroll County”;
U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office, Certification of Recognition for the Reality Program;
Maryland State Police - Certificate of Appreciation;
Attorney General's Family Violence Council, Domestic Violence Unit, Certificate of Merit;
The Westminster Lions Club- Outstanding Leadership Award;
Carroll County Health Department Recognition Award;
Governor's Certificate of Merit- Crime Prevention;
United States' Senators Award of Excellence- Service to Seniors;
The United States Committee for Celebration of the United States Nations International Year of Older Persons;
Maryland House of Delegates, House Resolution Award- Cell Phones for Seniors;
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), for Outstanding Service;
US Attorney's Office, for Outstanding Service;
United Nations, for Outstanding Service (Senior “911” Cell Phones);
US Senate, for Outstanding Service (Drug Awareness Programs);
Governor's Office, for Outstanding Service (Victim Witness Services);
Maryland State Police, Superintendent's Recognition for Specific Prosecution’s/Efforts;
Maryland State Police, Superintendent's Recognition for Superior Drug Enforcement Accomplishments;
Victim/Witness Associations, for Superior Victim/Witness Efforts;
Frederick County Narcotics Task Force, for Superior Service in Drug Enforcement;
Maryland State Fire Marshal, for Superior Successful Arson Prosecutions;
Maryland State Trooper's Association, for Working on Cpl. Ted Wolf's Homicide Case;
Reality Program, for Maryland's Most Productive Reality Program; and
National History Honor Society (Phi Alpha Theta)

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-8 pm at Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, 412 Washington Rd., Westminster.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at 1pm at St. John Catholic Church, 43 Monroe St., Westminster , with Chaplain Pat Geyer, officiating. Internment will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to Misfits Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box 75, Finksburg, MD 21048-0075.

Online condolences may be offered at www.prittsfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Jerry Francis Barnes please visit our Tribute Store. http://www.prittsfuneralhome.com/

Sunday, November 30, 2014

We mourn the passing of the late Carroll County Md. State’s Attorney Jerry Barnes

We mourn the tragic loss of our good friend, Vietnam veteran, and life-long public servant, the late Carroll County State’s Attorney Jerry Barnes.

Word spread quickly early Saturday afternoon, November 29, 2014 through the tight-knit Carroll County community of law enforcement, public officials and old main-line Carroll County families that Mr. Barnes had passed away.


Late at night – Westminster, Md. - - Over the years I have written several stories about my friend Mr. Barnes. I had the chance to talk with him at length on November 2, 2007 for several articles I wrote for Veterans Day. It was one of the first occasions he and I took to talk about Vietnam in all these years.

Jerry Barnes served as a Sergeant in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces from September 16, 1969 to September 16, 1970. In Vietnam, one of his assignments was working as a Special Forces advisor with twelve Montagnard fighters of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) at a radio relay site, in Kon Tum Province, on the Ho Chi Minh trail ‘near’ Laos.

Soon after arriving at Cam Ranh Bay in September 1969, he was assigned to the first of three “A-Camps” in Kon Tum Province which is located in the Central Tay Nguyen Highlands and is bordered on the north by Quang Nam; on the south by Gia Lai; on the east by Quang Ngai and on the west by Laos.  The “A-Camp” counterinsurgency concept is still being used to this day and was used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Kon Tum province he served at A-241 Polei Kleng; A-244 Ben Het; A-245 Dak Seang – about 20 miles from the Laotian border as one of approximately 10 American “advisors” serving with several hundred Montagnard tribesmen in the “Civilian Irregular Defense Group” counterinsurgency program.  The Montagnards had aligned themselves with the South Vietnamese and the Americans to patrol the Ho Chi Minh trail.

In particular one of Barnes’ assignments was to work with twelve Montagnard fighters at a radio relay site. While serving with the 5th Special Forces Group a “typical” assignment was to go out on 8 to 10-day operations as (more often than not) the lone American with a contingent of South Vietnamese Special Forces counterparts – or Montagnards, to monitor and patrol the Ho Chi Minh trail.  “Our objective was to interdict and disrupt the supply activities of the trail.”

“It was while out on one of these patrols that Barnes’ heroic actions earned him the first of two Bronze Stars for valor,” according to a biographical sketch written a number of years ago by former Carroll County Maryland State Delegate and newspaper reporter Carmen Amedori.

Mr. Barnes explained that he was with 20 Montagnards 18 miles from the Laotian border “manning a radio relay station for a larger operation farther out when we were attacked as dusk by a (contingent) of the North Vietnamese regular Army.”  The ensuing firefight lasted throughout the night.  “We took some casualties and before it was all over, it took calling in an artillery attack, then Cobra helicopter gunships followed by suppression fire from C-130’s, known as “Puff the Magic Dragons,” and finally two fighter jets to save them.

Before returning home he was awarded a second Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge among a number of recognitions. 

Word spread quickly early Saturday afternoon, November 29, 2014 through the tight-knit Carroll County community of law enforcement, public officials and old main-line Carroll County families that Mr. Barnes had passed away.

Those of us who work with death notifications often never quite know what to say publicly… If I am on a fire, accident or crime scene, I often wait until the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshall or another law enforcement agency puts-out a statement so that I may have an idea to how to approach a death…

When a public official dies, those of us who serve as public information officers are equally careful as to what to say and when. In the case of Mr. Barnes, Captain Richard L. Hart Jr., Commander Investigative Services Division of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office released a statement at 5:03 p.m.:

“On November 29, 2014 at approximately 10:30am, Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a private residence in Westminster for a report of an attempted suicide. Upon the Deputy’s arrival, EMS personnel were providing aid to a male who was suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man was transported to the Carroll Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead.

“The man has been identified as Jerry Francis Barnes, who is the State’s Attorney for Carroll County.

“Mr. Barnes was a lifelong resident of Carroll County and has served as a criminal prosecutor for a total of 38 years, including the past 20 as Carroll County’s State’s Attorney.

“Mr. Barnes’ body has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is continuing….” 

This comes a cold wake-up call to always remember the sacrifices made by our nation’s military, law enforcement and public officials to preserve the quality of life and freedoms we hold so dear.

Day after day, they take some brain away…. The demons never go away. They conveniently hide in the shadows of our everyday hectic lives. On Feb. 26, 1995, I wrote, in part…. [We] are a walking sandwich board testimony to our messy, imperfect lives as much as the amused passers-by. It’s what one does with their relationship with the absurdities of life that makes one unique... and one’s repository of discarded sandwich boards... are what counts. As Mr. Shakespeare once said: “Let the end try the man. Or as the Masai say, “Epwo m-baa poking in-gitin got,” - “Everything has an end." 

Our only defense is to put on the Whole Armor of God:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6: 10-18

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