Bentley, Helen Delich, 1923-2016

Helen Delich Bentley (November 28, 1923 – August 6, 2016) was an American reporter, journalist, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, she served in the United States House of Representatives from Maryland from 1985 to 1995.

Born Helen Delich in Ruth, Nevada, she grew up in the neighboring town of Ely. After graduating from White Pine High School in Ely in 1941, she attended the University of Nevada and the University of Missouri, graduating from the latter in 1944. Following her graduation, Delich worked for small-town newspapers in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Lewiston, Idaho before being offered a reporting position at The Baltimore Sun in 1945. She initially reported on labor and union matters, but was subsequently allocated maritime and waterfront news. Beginning in 1950 Bentley hosted a local Baltimore TV program on WMAR, The Port That Built a City, presenting maritime and transportation-related news. Later retitled The Port That Built a City and State, the series was produced by Bentley until 1965 and included then-novel live remotes from the decks of ships in Baltimore harbor during the early years of television. On June 7, 1959, Helen Delich married William Bentley, a school teacher.

In 1969, Bentley was offered a seat on the Federal Maritime Commission. However, she declined and asked for the position of chair instead. She was appointed and chaired the commission from 1969 to 1975. The position made her the highest-ranking woman in President Nixon's administration. During her tenure, Bentley advocated for federal support for American shipbuilding yards. She then worked as a columnist for World Port Magazine and as a shipping company executive.

Bentley challenged Democratic incumbent Clarence Long in Maryland's 2nd congressional district in 1980 and 1982. She defeated Long on her third attempt in 1984, and was elected to the 99th Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1985, to January 3, 1995. During her time in office, Bentley was a strong advocate for protectionist trade policies in support of U.S. manufacturing and the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet. She also introduced legislation which enabled Chesapeake Bay to be dredged, allowing larger cargo ships to access the port of Baltimore. In the 1990s, she was sympathetic towards Serbians during the civil war in Yugoslavia, and opposed U.S. military involvement in that conflict.

Following her time in Congress, Bentley founded Helen Bentley & Associates, Inc., and provided consultancy services on international trade, business and government. She was also a consultant for the Maryland Port Administration and the Port of Baltimore, and served on the Board of Trustees for both the Baltimore Museum of Industry and the Maritime Industries Academy High School. She died at her home in Timonium, Maryland.