Spiro Agnew

Upon graduating from the army school in 1942, Agnew married Elinor Isabel Judefind, nicknamed Judy, whom he met while working for an insurance company. The couple had four children together: Pamela, James Rand, Susan and Kimberly.

Spiro Agnew died on September 17, 1996, at Atlantic General Hospital, in Berlin, Maryland, U.S., after being diagnosed with an advanced form of leukemia. He was interred at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, in Timonium, Maryland.

Spiro Theodore Agnew was born on November 9, 1918, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., to Theodore Spiros Agnew, a Greek-immigrant restaurateur, and his wife, Margaret Akers. From his mother's first marriage, Spiro had a half-brother named Roy Pollard.

Agnew received his early education from Forest Park Senior High School in Baltimore. In 1937, he was enrolled at the Johns Hopkins University and studied chemistry for the next three years.

In 1940, he went to the law school at the University of Baltimore, where he attended night classes. While studying law, he managed his expenses with a day job at an insurance company.

In 1941, Agnew was enlisted into the peacetime Selective Service System and was subsequently drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1946, he returned to the law school and resumed his studies.

In 1947, Agnew completed his law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1949. He started his legal practice at a Baltimore firm and subsequently began a private practice when he was recalled to active duty in 1950, to serve in the Korean War.

Upon returning from active military duty, Agnew resumed his law practice and became involved in Baltimore County's local politics. In 1956, he became a member of the Republican Party and began promoting its national and local campaigns.

In 1957, he was chosen to serve on the Baltimore County Board of Zoning Appeals on a one-year term. The following year, he was re-appointed for a three-year term and later served as the board chairman.

In 1962, he ran for the Baltimore county executive and was duly elected for the post, which he held until 1966. His term as county executive proved to be a success and his popularity increased over the years.

In 1967, he was chosen as the Republican candidate for the Maryland governorship and won the election. From January 1967 to January 1969, Agnew served as the 55th Governor of Maryland.

As the Governor of Maryland, Agnew proved himself to be a progressive statesman. While in office, he worked to pass tax and judicial reforms, approved a more liberal abortion law, and increased funding for anti-poverty programs. Agnew also drafted the nation's toughest clean water legislation, repealed the state’s 306-year-old law banning interracial marriage, and passed legislation removing barriers to public housing.