Edward Garmatz

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Edward Alexander Garmatz (February 7, 1903—July 22, 1986), a Democrat, was a U.S. Congressman who represented the 3^rd congressional district of Maryland from 1947 to 1973.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Garmatz attended the public schools and the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. He engaged in the electrical business from 1920 to 1942, and was associated with the Maryland State Racing Commission from 1941 to 1944. He served as police magistrate from 1944-1947.

Garmatz was elected July 15, 1947 by special election to fulfill the vacancy left by Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., who had resigned the seat to become Mayor of Baltimore. He was re-elected to the twelve succeeding Congresses and served from July 15, 1947 to January 3, 1973. From the Eighty-ninth through the Ninety-second Congresses, Garmatz served as chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1972 to the Ninety-third Congress, and became employed by the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots Union. He was a resident of Baltimore until his death there.

In 1978, a federal bribery conspiracy case against Garmatz was dismissed at the urging of Justice Department officials who said they had discovered that their key witness had lied to a grand jury and forged documents.

The federal building in Baltimore is named after Garmatz.