Schmoke, Kurt L. (Kurt Lidell), 1949-

<p>Kurt L. Schmoke, born in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 1, 1949, came from a middle class background. His father, Murray, a civilian chemist for the U.S. Army, was a graduate of Morehouse College, and his mother, Irene was a social worker. Schmoke attended the city’s prestigious public high school, Baltimore City College, winning both academic and athletic distinctions, and leading his school to a state championship in football.</p>

<p>Schmoke entered Yale University in 1967 and three years later, he acted as a student leader to help defuse a crisis in 1970 over the New Haven murder trial of Black Panther Bobby Seale. After graduating from Yale, Schmoke studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. In 1976 he graduated from Harvard Law School. Following a brief career in Washington, D.C., serving on the White House Domestic Policy Staff and at the Department of Transportation during the Administration of President Jimmy Carter, he returned to Baltimore and was elected to the position of State’s Attorney in 1982, and five years later he won the election for mayor of Baltimore.</p>

<p>His opponent in the first mayoral race was an African American incumbent, Clarence Burns who had been chosen by the former white mayor, William Donald Schaefer, when he left office upon his election as Governor of Maryland. Incumbent Burns, who ran on Schaefer’s record, emphasized the spectacular development of the Inner Harbor area, which had been transformed from a dilapidated waterfront into a glittering tourist attraction. Claiming that Baltimore had become “prettier but poorer,” Schmoke focused on other areas of the city, particularly the black community, and at the age of 38 won a very close election. Schmoke would win reelection twice, serving as mayor of Baltimore for twelve years from 1987 to 1999.</p>

<p>Kurt Lidell Schmoke (born December 1, 1949) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 46th mayor of Baltimore, Maryland from 1987 to 1999, the first African American to be elected to the post. He is the current president of the University of Baltimore (UB), and former Dean of the Howard University School of Law.</p>

<p>Schmoke was born and raised in Baltimore to Murray Schmoke, a civilian chemist for the US Army, and Irene B. Reid, a social worker. He attended the public schools of Baltimore.</p>

<p>Schmoke attended the Baltimore City College, the third oldest high school in the United States and graduated in 1967. Schmoke excelled in both football and lacrosse and he was a star quarterback. As the varsity quarterback, he led the City Knights to two undefeated seasons and successive Maryland Scholastic Association A-conference championships in 1965 and 1966.</p>

<p>Mayor, city attorney, and academic administrator Hon. Kurt L. Schmoke was born on December 1, 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland, the only child of Irene and Murray Schmoke. College-educated, Murray Schmoke was a chemist while Irene was a social worker. Schmoke attended Baltimore City College, a public high school, where he was the quarterback of the school’s state champion football team. Schmoke’s parents and pastor, Marion Bascom of the Douglas Memorial Community Church, encouraged his academic career. Schmoke was also mentored by Baltimore Judge Robert Hammerman, who asked him to join the Lancers Boys Club, a youth organization that Hammerman ran in his spare time.</p>

<p>Schmoke attended Yale University, where he continued to excel in school and athletics, and was chosen to represent the student body during the turmoil that surrounded the 1970 trial of Black Panther Bobby Seale. Schmoke graduated with his B.A. degree in history in 1971, after which he was selected for a Rhodes Scholarship. He studied at Oxford University in England for two years, traveling throughout Europe and Africa in his free time. Schmoke attended Harvard Law School, graduating with his J.D. degree in 1976. While in law school, he met and married Baltimore native and ophthalmologist Patricia Locks. The couple has two children, Gregory and Katherine.</p>

<p>After passing the Maryland Bar Examination, Schmoke joined the prominent law firm of Piper & Marbury, where he worked for less than two years before being recruited by the Carter Administration to work as assistant director under Stuart Eizenstat on the White House Domestic Policy Staff. Schmoke, however, decided to return to public service in Baltimore as an Assistant United States Attorney in 1978. Four years later, he successfully ran for State’s Attorney, Baltimore’s chief prosecuting officer.</p>

<p><b>RACES</b>
<ul>
<li> 11/07/1995 Baltimore, MD Mayor Won 78.78% (+57.56%)</li>
<li> 09/12/1995 Baltimore, MD Mayor - D Primary Won 62.10% (+26.03%)</li>
<li> 11/15/1991 Baltimore, MD Mayor Won 72.14% (+44.29%)</li>
<li> 09/12/1991 Baltimore, MD Mayor - D Primary Won 57.60% (+27.89%)</li>
<li> 11/03/1987 Baltimore, MD Mayor Won 78.32% (+56.65%)</li>
<li> 09/15/1987 Baltimore, MD Mayor - D Primary Won 50.81% (+3.49%)</li>
</ul>
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