University of Baltimore Community Mourns the Passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings
October 17, 2019
Contact: Office of Government and Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore community is mourning the loss of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, the long-serving Congressman for Maryland's 7th District, civil rights leader and a friend of the institution. The Baltimore native died early this morning at Gilchrist Hospice Care at the age of 68. He had been suffering from health problems for some time, and in September had paused from his duties as chair of the House of Representatives Oversight and Reform Committee.
"Congressman Cummings and I were great friends since our days at Baltimore City College High School," said Kurt L. Schmoke, president of the University, former mayor of Baltimore and a fellow native of the city. "He was the exemplar of what it means to be a public servant. The country will remember him as the great protector of our democracy."
Rep. Cummings was a strong supporter of UB, having served as Commencement speaker in January 2004, as keynote speaker for the School of Law's Urban Child Symposium in April 2010, and as a frequent visitor to campus. In November 2015, the University's Schaefer Center for Public Policy honored Rep. Cummings with the inaugural William Donald Schaefer Award, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to civil rights and effective government. He also hosted informational events on campus covering jobs, taxes, the arts, and other topics of importance to everyday Baltimoreans.
Congressman Cummings's public-service career began in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served for 14 years and became the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tem. He was elected to the 7th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996.
Elijah Cummings leaves an awe-inspiring legacy of dedication to democracy and democratic principles. He believed in the transformative power of education, the importance of public service, and the fundamentals of fair play and justice in all aspects of life. The University of Baltimore community is grateful for his many contributions to the life of the city, and will continue his work as a lasting tribute.
Read more about Rep. Cummings in The Baltimore Sun.