Harry A. Cole

Honorable Harry A. Cole
Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals
In office
1977–1991
Nominated by Governor Blair Lee, III
Appointed by Spiro T. Agnew
Judge, Supreme Bench of Baltimore City
In office
1967–1977
Maryland State Senate
In office
1955–1966
Personal details
Born January 1, 1921(1921-01-01)
Washington, D.C.
Died February 14, 1999(1999-02-14) (aged 78)
Baltimore, Maryland
Spouse(s) Doris F. Cole
Children Susan Cole Hill, Harriette Cole, Stephanie Hill
Alma mater Morgan State University, University of Maryland Law School

Harry A. Cole (January 21, 1921 – February 14, 1999) was an American lawyer and jurist from Baltimore, Maryland. Cole was also a member of the Maryland State Senate and the first African-American ever elected to the Maryland Senate and the first African-American to serve on the Maryland Court of Appeals.[1]

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Background

Born in Washington, D.C., Cole was one of five children. His father died while he was an infant and his mother moved the family back to Baltimore where she had grown up.[1] Cole attended Baltimore public schools and graduated from Douglass High School, He then attended and graduated as class valedictorian from Morgan State College with an A.B. in 1943. Immediately after college, Cole joined the U.S. Army where he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. He received an honorable discharge in 1946. Cole resumed his education and went on to the University of Maryland Law School where he earned an LL.B. in 1949. He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1949.[2]

Judicial career

Associate Judge, Municipal Court of Baltimore City, 1967. Associate Judge, Supreme Bench of Baltimore City (now Circuit Court), 1967-77. Associate Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals, 1977-91.

Personal life

Cole married the former Doris Freeland in 1958; three daughters: Susan, Harriette and Stephanie. He died of pneumonia at Church Home, Baltimore, Maryland on February 14, 1999.

References