ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 10, 2007) – Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown unveiled a portrait gallery of former Maryland Lieutenant Governors today that has its home at the entrance of the Lieutenant Governor’s office. In addition, the Curran family generously loaned the formal portrait of former Lt. Governor and Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. that will be hung near the portrait gallery.
Former Lieutenant Governors attending the reception included: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Melvin A. Steinberg, and J. Joseph Curran, Jr. Governor Martin O’Malley also attended to honor the former Lieutenant Governors.
“Tonight we honor the office of Lieutenant Governor, the individuals who have held the office and their service to the State of Maryland. Every administration has leveraged the assets of our second in command to move our state forward,” said Governor O’Malley. “I am especially proud to be here tonight to honor my father-in-law, former Attorney General and Lt. Governor J. Joseph Curran, Jr. It is fitting that his portrait will hang in our hallowed halls due to his five decades of service to our state. Along the way, he set a standard for honesty, decency and courage that’s not likely to be matched – in our lifetime, or ever.”
Lt. Governor Brown requested the portrait gallery and history of the office from the Maryland State Archives as a way of honoring those who had come before him and served the State of Maryland with such dignity. He lauded the Curran family for their generosity in loaning the J. Joseph Curran, Jr. portrait to the display.
“Lieutenant Governor is a unique position in Maryland government – a position that does not have a rigid and defined job description. Yet it is a position that plays an important role in bettering the lives of Marylanders,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “While our individual responsibilities may have varied over the years, we have all approached our position with a great love for our State and great optimism for our future.”