George W. Della
Encyclopedia
George W. Della was a politician and businessman from the U.S. state
of Maryland
. Trained as a lawyer, Della was appointed to the Maryland Senate in 1939 to represent a district in Baltimore
and served until his retirement from politics. He served as President of the Maryland Senate from 1951-1955 and again from 1959-1963. Following his retirement in 1963, Della worked as a lobbyist for Baltimore Gas and Electric
. His son, George W. Della, Jr.
, was a member of the Baltimore City Council from 1976-1983 and the Maryland Senate representing South Baltimore from 1983-2010.
, from which he graduated in 1927. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore
in 1932 and, three years later, earned a law degree from that institution's School of Law
. By 1936, Della had passed the Maryland Bar and begun to practice law, and the same year he was wed to Agnes H. Mattare, with whom he would have three children, George, Mary, and Howard.
As a lifelong resident of Baltimore, Della was active in a number of community organizations. He was a member of Baltimore's Episcopal Church of the Advent and of the Baltimore Country Club, and as a Director of the American Bankers Life Insurance Company of Florida and the South Baltimore General Hospital. Della was also a long-time member of the Freemasons. In 1959 the Boumi Temple of the Shrine, part of the Freemason organization commonly referred to as the Shriners, made him potentate.
In 1939, Governor Herbert R. O'Conor appointed Della to the Maryland Senate as the Senator from Baltimore's 6th district. He served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Chair of the Insurance and Loans Committee and the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Della was elected to serve as President of the Maryland Senate in 1951, and would continue in that role until 1955. In 1959, he was again elected President, a position which he would not relinquish again until his retirement in 1963. Following his retirement, Della was hired as a lobbyist in 1967 by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, now Constellation Energy
. He would continue to play a role in Maryland politics, most prominently as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1967. Della retired in 1985, and died in 1990. His son George W. Della, Jr.
followed in his father's footsteps, winning election as a Senator from Baltimore's 47th district in 1983 and remaining Senator in a redistricted 46th district in 2003 until his primary defeat in September of 2010.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Trained as a lawyer, Della was appointed to the Maryland Senate in 1939 to represent a district in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and served until his retirement from politics. He served as President of the Maryland Senate from 1951-1955 and again from 1959-1963. Following his retirement in 1963, Della worked as a lobbyist for Baltimore Gas and Electric
Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an energy producer, trader, and distributor. The company operates over 35 power plants in 11 states under its operating company Constellation Commodities Group and/or Constellation Generation Group...
. His son, George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr. is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is previously served in the Maryland State Senate, representing District 46 in Baltimore City from 1983 to 2011.-Background:...
, was a member of the Baltimore City Council from 1976-1983 and the Maryland Senate representing South Baltimore from 1983-2010.
Biography
George W. Della was born February 9, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attained his education locally, attending Baltimore Public Schools and the Baltimore City CollegeBaltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
, from which he graduated in 1927. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore
University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore , located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood at 1420 N. Charles Street, is part of the University System of Maryland. Through the Freshman Initiative or Lower Division Initiative, UB has transformed from an upper division university to a...
in 1932 and, three years later, earned a law degree from that institution's School of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law, or UB Law, is one of the three colleges that make up the University of Baltimore, which is part of the University System of Maryland. UB Law is one of only two law schools in the state of Maryland, the other law school being the University of Maryland School...
. By 1936, Della had passed the Maryland Bar and begun to practice law, and the same year he was wed to Agnes H. Mattare, with whom he would have three children, George, Mary, and Howard.
As a lifelong resident of Baltimore, Della was active in a number of community organizations. He was a member of Baltimore's Episcopal Church of the Advent and of the Baltimore Country Club, and as a Director of the American Bankers Life Insurance Company of Florida and the South Baltimore General Hospital. Della was also a long-time member of the Freemasons. In 1959 the Boumi Temple of the Shrine, part of the Freemason organization commonly referred to as the Shriners, made him potentate.
In 1939, Governor Herbert R. O'Conor appointed Della to the Maryland Senate as the Senator from Baltimore's 6th district. He served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Chair of the Insurance and Loans Committee and the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Della was elected to serve as President of the Maryland Senate in 1951, and would continue in that role until 1955. In 1959, he was again elected President, a position which he would not relinquish again until his retirement in 1963. Following his retirement, Della was hired as a lobbyist in 1967 by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, now Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an energy producer, trader, and distributor. The company operates over 35 power plants in 11 states under its operating company Constellation Commodities Group and/or Constellation Generation Group...
. He would continue to play a role in Maryland politics, most prominently as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1967. Della retired in 1985, and died in 1990. His son George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr. is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is previously served in the Maryland State Senate, representing District 46 in Baltimore City from 1983 to 2011.-Background:...
followed in his father's footsteps, winning election as a Senator from Baltimore's 47th district in 1983 and remaining Senator in a redistricted 46th district in 2003 until his primary defeat in September of 2010.