The State of Maryland today recognized Former Governor Harry Roe Hughes ’s decades of service to the citizens of Maryland by dedicating the southbound I-95 Welcome Center in Laurel in his honor. The ceremony also serves as the inaugural event for Maryland’s Highway Centennial Celebration, of which Governor Hughes is Honorary Chairman. With the founding of the State Roads Commission in 1908, “to get farmers out of the mud,” Maryland began a century of leadership in transportation, and has built a reputation as one of the most forward-looking road and bridge building entities in the nation. Governor Hughes is helping to lead the education and outreach effort to highlight Maryland’s “Century of Progress.”
As Maryland’s first Secretary of the Department of Transportation, formed in 1970, Harry Hughes was instrumental in welding together the State Roads Commission (whose functions were taken over by the State Highway Administration), the Maryland Transportation Authority, Transit, Motor Vehicle, Aviation and Port administrations. His dedication and focus on teamwork and effectiveness was responsible for bringing a multi-modal focus to the way the State of Maryland and its citizens approached transportation.
“Harry Hughes was not only a tremendous Governor, he has continued to quietly and tirelessly serve the citizens of Maryland in the decades since,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “He is a man of integrity and humility and it is a pleasure to afford him recognition. As Maryland’s first transportation secretary it is fitting that a transportation facility be dedicated in his honor and that he has a leadership role for the Highway Centennial Celebration.”
During his tenure, Governor Hughes was instrumental in establishing the Welcome Centers in Laurel and across Maryland. The ceremony today included remarks by Deputy Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley, President and CEO of the Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce Walter Townshend, and Governor Hughes himself. Hundreds of family, friends and industry leaders joined to congratulate Governor Hughes and mark the Centennial Celebration.
The Century of Progress Celebration has been in the planning stages since 2005. A commemorative book has been commissioned, and a Maryland Public Television documentary will help to recognize the many historic innovations of Maryland’s highway planners and builders for the last 100 years. Also planned are an SHA “Homecoming” event, displays at public venues including BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, the Maryland Science Center, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, welcome centers, SHA headquarters and district offices, and a motorcycle safety caravan to raise public awareness, tied-in with open houses at SHA district shops.
The Centennial website, www.mdhighwaycentennial.com, offers a variety of photographs, historic facts, fun quizzes and a list of anniversary-related events throughout the year.
The Maryland Highway Centennial Celebration is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration, the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration, in partnership with the Maryland Quality Initiative (MdQI), a coalition of private highway industry associations and firms.
Private industry is sponsoring many of the activities and events, with opportunities to get involved as well as make tax-deductible contributions to the project.
Sponsors include: General Motors, JMT, Ford Motor Company's Driving Skills for Life, PB, Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, Reliable Contracting, Aggregate Industries Management Mid Atlantic Region, Wilson T. Ballard, ADDCO Smart Traffic Solutions, American Traffic Safety Services Association, JJID General Contractors, STV, A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Guardrails, etc., American Road & Transportation Builders Association, Hunt Valley Contractors and the Women's Transportation Seminar, Baltimore Chapter.
Maryland Highway Centennial Executive Committee Members include:
Governor Harry Hughes
Honorary Chairman & Transportation
Secretary (1971-1977)
John D. Porcari
Transportation Secretary and Centennial Chairman
Anne Ferro
President & CEO, Maryland Motor Truck Association
Donald C. Fry
President, Greater Baltimore Committee
Nelson Castellanos
Federal Highway Division Administrator
Timothy Maloney
Maryland General Assembly (1979-1995)
William K. Hellmann
Transportation Secretary (1984-1987)
O. James Lighthizer
Transportation Secretary (1991-1994)
David Winstead
Transportation Secretary (1995-1998) | David W. Edgerley
Secretary, Department of Business & Economic
Development
Walter E. Woodford, Jr., P.E.
Maryland Transportation Authority
Timothy Campbell
Executive Director, Maryland Aviation Administration
Ronald L. Freeland
Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Secretary
John Kuo
Motor Vehicle Administrator
Neil J. Pedersen
State Highway Administrator
James J. White
Maryland Port Administration Executive Director
Paul Wiedefeld
Maryland Transit Administrator |
The State Highway Administration will remind motorists throughout the year of its continuing commitment to customer safety and satisfaction. SHA’s centennial celebration theme, “Customer driven, now more than ever,” reflects SHA’s renewed commitment as a safety and customer-service focused organization.
Contacts:
Valerie Burnette Edgar
Sandra Dobson
410-545-0303
Toll-Free: 1-800-323-6742
MD Relay: 1-800-735-2258 |
