Kurt Schmoke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kurt Schmoke
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Schmoke in 2023
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| 47th Mayor of Baltimore | |
| In office December 7, 1987 – December 7, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Clarence Burns |
| Succeeded by | Martin O'Malley |
| State's Attorney of Baltimore | |
| In office 1983–1987 |
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| Preceded by | William Swisher |
| Succeeded by | Stuart O. Simms |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kurt Lidell Schmoke
December 1, 1949 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Patricia Locks |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Balliol College, Oxford Harvard University (JD) |
Kurt Lidell Schmoke (born December 1, 1949) is an American lawyer and politician. He made history in 1987 when he was elected the 47th mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first African American to hold this important job.
After his time as mayor, he became the dean of the Howard University School of Law. Since 2014, he has served as the president of the University of Baltimore.
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Early Life and School Years
Kurt Schmoke was born and grew up in Baltimore. His father, Murray Schmoke, was a chemist for the US Army, and his mother, Irene B. Reid, was a social worker. He went to public schools in the city.
High School Star
Schmoke attended Baltimore City College, one of the oldest high schools in the United States, and graduated in 1967. He was a talented athlete who played both football and lacrosse. As the star quarterback, he led his football team, the City Knights, to two perfect seasons without any losses.
He was also a top student. He was in a special advanced program called the "A-course," where he took challenging subjects like Latin. In his senior year, he was elected president of the student government. Even with his busy schedule, he found time to help his community by tutoring and mentoring kids from the city.
College and Leadership
In 1967, Schmoke went to Yale College, a famous university. He continued to play football and was part of a well-known game in 1968 where Yale and Harvard tied 29-29.
While at Yale, Schmoke and his friends started a daycare center on campus. It was for the children of university workers, like janitors and cafeteria staff. The center was named after Calvin Hill, a Yale football hero who later played for the Dallas Cowboys. The daycare is still open today.
In 1970, Schmoke showed great leadership during a tense time on campus. Many students were upset about local events and wanted to stop attending classes. Schmoke, who was a student leader, was asked to speak to the university's teachers and staff. He calmly asked them for guidance and moral leadership. His short, powerful speech helped to calm the situation and prevent major trouble.
After graduating from Yale in 1971, Schmoke was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar. This special honor allowed him to study at Balliol College, Oxford in England. He later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1976.
Career in Law and Government
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After finishing law school, Schmoke worked for a law firm in Baltimore. In 1977, he moved to Washington, D.C., to work for President Jimmy Carter's administration in the Department of Transportation. A year later, he returned to Baltimore and became an Assistant United States Attorney, a type of government lawyer, from 1978 to 1981.
In 1982, Schmoke decided to run for public office for the first time. He won the election for Baltimore City State's Attorney, becoming the city's top prosecutor.
Mayor of Baltimore
On November 3, 1987, Kurt Schmoke was elected mayor of Baltimore, a major victory that made him the city's first African American mayor. He served for three terms, until 1999.
As mayor, he became known for his bold ideas. He believed that the country's approach to handling illegal substances was not working. He suggested that these issues should be treated more like public health problems. This was a very controversial idea at the time, and many other leaders, including Congressman Charles Rangel, strongly disagreed with him.
During his time as mayor, Schmoke started many programs to improve life for the people of Baltimore. These programs focused on housing, education, public health, and creating new jobs.
His work earned him national recognition. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush gave him the National Literacy Award for his work in helping adults learn to read. In 1994, President Bill Clinton praised Baltimore's programs and named it one of six cities to receive a special "Empowerment Zone" status to help the community's economy grow.
After serving three terms, Schmoke decided not to run for re-election in 1999.
Life After Politics
After leaving the mayor's office, Schmoke returned to practicing law. In 2003, he took on a new challenge as the dean of the Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. He later became a vice president at the university.
On May 14, 2014, it was announced that Schmoke would be the new president of the University of Baltimore, a role he still holds today.
Schmoke has also stayed involved in other activities. He appeared in two episodes of the popular TV show The Wire, which is set in Baltimore. He played a small role as a health commissioner, which was a nod to his own ideas about public health.
In January 2024, Schmoke became part of a group, led by businessman David Rubenstein, that bought the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. The group also included other famous people like baseball legend Cal Ripken and basketball star Grant Hill.
