Wayne K. Curry
Encyclopedia
Wayne Keith Curry was elected county executive for Prince George's County, Maryland
in November 1994, and served two terms as county executive from 1994 to 2002. His career has encompassed government
, civic
, and community affairs for more than 20 years.
, a community in the northwestern portion of Prince George's county. His family was the among the first non-white families to integrate into this community in the 1950s. His father was a school teacher, and his mother was a homemaker and later an office secretary. He and his older brother were the first blacks to attend Cheverly-Tuxedo Elementary school in 1959. Curry earned his high school diploma
from Bladensburg High School
in 1968.
In 1972, Curry earned his Bachelors of Arts in Psychology
from Western Maryland College, where he was president of the freshman class. Following graduation, he worked as a teacher and director of the Child Daycare Center of Prince George's County. In 1974, Curry took a hiatus from the professional area, and traveled across America. He earned money working at truck stops and slept at campsites throughout the country.
. Kelly was the executive for Prince George's County from 1974 until 1978. Curry's career began as a staffer responsible for writing constituent reply mail. He later went on to serve as community affairs assistant, administrative assistant to the county's Chief Administrative Officer and senior assistant to the executive. While working for Kelly, he also attended law school at night, earning his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
in 1980, graduating with honors.
From 1980 until 1983, Curry worked as a real estate
and development lawyer
for the "Michael Companies". In 1984, Curry started his own law practice and became a well-known, successful corporate attorney.
From 1984 to 1992, Curry was General Counsel for "Dimensions Health Corporation", a major healthcare business that operates Prince George's General Hospital Center, the Greater Laurel-Beltsville Hospital, and the Bowie Health Center. Mr. Curry has served as Chairman of the United Way Campaign of Prince Georges County, President of the Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the "School Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Black Male Achievement", Chairman of the "Prince George's County Substance Abuse Advisory Board", a member of the "Board of Directors of the Prince George's County Christmas in April", Director of "United Communities Against Poverty", and Director of the "Bonnie Johns Children's Fund."
In 1994, Curry returned to the county executive's office and made history when he became the first African American
to serve in the County's highest elected office. He served two consecutive terms from 1994 to 2002.
Curry served on Governor
Robert Ehrlich
's 2002 transition team into the Governor's Mansion. Curry was appointed Commissioner to the Maryland Port Commission in 2003 by Gov. Ehrlich, a Republican. He was prominently mentioned in the news media as a speculative candidate for Lieutenant Governor
when Ehrlich ran (unsuccessfully) for re-election in 2006, although Kristen Cox
was eventually chosen as Ehrlich's running mate. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/29/AR2006042901284.html
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
in November 1994, and served two terms as county executive from 1994 to 2002. His career has encompassed government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, civic
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...
, and community affairs for more than 20 years.
Early life and career
Although Wayne Curry was born in Brooklyn, New York, he actually grew up in Cheverly, MarylandCheverly, Maryland
Cheverly is a town in central Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., United States. The town was founded in 1918 and it was incorporated in 1931. Cheverly had 6,433 residents as of the 2000 Census....
, a community in the northwestern portion of Prince George's county. His family was the among the first non-white families to integrate into this community in the 1950s. His father was a school teacher, and his mother was a homemaker and later an office secretary. He and his older brother were the first blacks to attend Cheverly-Tuxedo Elementary school in 1959. Curry earned his high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
from Bladensburg High School
Bladensburg High School
Bladensburg High School is a secondary school located in Bladensburg, Maryland.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district....
in 1968.
In 1972, Curry earned his Bachelors of Arts in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from Western Maryland College, where he was president of the freshman class. Following graduation, he worked as a teacher and director of the Child Daycare Center of Prince George's County. In 1974, Curry took a hiatus from the professional area, and traveled across America. He earned money working at truck stops and slept at campsites throughout the country.
Political career
From 1975 until 1978, Curry worked in the administration of Prince George's County Executive Winfield KellyWinfield M. Kelly, Jr.
Winfield M. "Win" Kelly, Jr. served as the County Executive of Prince George's County, Maryland from 1974 to 1978. He had previously served as a member of the Board of County Commissioners in Prince George's County, 1970–71, the Chair of the County Council in Prince George's County, 1971–74 and is...
. Kelly was the executive for Prince George's County from 1974 until 1978. Curry's career began as a staffer responsible for writing constituent reply mail. He later went on to serve as community affairs assistant, administrative assistant to the county's Chief Administrative Officer and senior assistant to the executive. While working for Kelly, he also attended law school at night, earning his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
in 1980, graduating with honors.
From 1980 until 1983, Curry worked as a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and development lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
for the "Michael Companies". In 1984, Curry started his own law practice and became a well-known, successful corporate attorney.
From 1984 to 1992, Curry was General Counsel for "Dimensions Health Corporation", a major healthcare business that operates Prince George's General Hospital Center, the Greater Laurel-Beltsville Hospital, and the Bowie Health Center. Mr. Curry has served as Chairman of the United Way Campaign of Prince Georges County, President of the Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the "School Superintendent's Advisory Committee on Black Male Achievement", Chairman of the "Prince George's County Substance Abuse Advisory Board", a member of the "Board of Directors of the Prince George's County Christmas in April", Director of "United Communities Against Poverty", and Director of the "Bonnie Johns Children's Fund."
In 1994, Curry returned to the county executive's office and made history when he became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to serve in the County's highest elected office. He served two consecutive terms from 1994 to 2002.
Curry served on Governor
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
's 2002 transition team into the Governor's Mansion. Curry was appointed Commissioner to the Maryland Port Commission in 2003 by Gov. Ehrlich, a Republican. He was prominently mentioned in the news media as a speculative candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland is the second highest ranking official in the executive branch of the state government of Maryland in the United States. He or she is elected on the same ticket as the Governor of Maryland and must meet the same qualifications.The current Lieutenant Governor is...
when Ehrlich ran (unsuccessfully) for re-election in 2006, although Kristen Cox
Kristen Cox
Kristen Cox is a blind American politician and current Executive Director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Previously Cox served as Maryland Secretary of Disabilities. Kris Cox was the running mate of Maryland Governor Robert L...
was eventually chosen as Ehrlich's running mate. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/29/AR2006042901284.html