Biography of William Gordy, Jr. (Nasim Moalem)
Comptroller 1921-1939
2201/05/17
Biography of William S. Gordy, Jr.
2001/05/03
Here is the lastest version of my working biography.
2001/04/15
This is part of my working biography of Gordy
2001/02/29
1922--Gordy has a very interesting inauguration. He was given the oath of the office of comptroller in the sickroom of the Governor's mansion. The Governor was in bed recovering from bronchitis. He sat in a chair will administering the oath to Gordy. It was the first time in history that had happened.
Contemporaries saw Gordy as running the Comptroller's office in a very business-like fashion. One of the very first things he did was to streamline the activities of the office (in 1922). He installed a double-entry system of book-keeping that reduced work and errors, so much so that the state collected 200,000 dollars more in corporation taxes and more than half a million more collected from state tax officers. The newspaper was quick to point out that these amounts were not additional income for the state, but prompter payments possible because of an improved system.
Also, that year, Gordy recommended and the legislature agreed to pass an act allowing the appointment of a state license inspector. This individual was responsible for making sure businesses took out licenses and took out licenses appropriate to their line of business. The estimated gain to the state from this position was anywhere from 35 to 50,000 dollars a year.
In 1924, Gordy's annual report to the Assembly emphasised the need for adequate facilities to safeguard important records. He recommended construction of a fireproof vault. In that report, he also indicated that the office of the license inspector helped bring the state 40,000 dollars in new revenue. At this point, he recommended the creation of a chief inspector position along with 3 assistants--indicating that the staff could bring in an estimated 120,000 dollars in revenue a year.
Gordy summed up his style like this, "'I am not inclined to be theoretical, but practical. To me government and business are in a sense the same thing.'"
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2001/28/02
Found the obits of Gordy written by the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. I also found a picture of Gordy--although it's not very good quality. More interesting info about Gordy: He was a very successful banker by trade and made 2 failed bids for Governor--in 1926 and 1938. Apparently, he was also persuaded to run for Comptroller in 1921 through interesting circumstances. The Baltimore Sun reports that it was an "'off year' for Democrats" and no one wanted to run, so former Governor John W. Smith and Frank A. Furst convinced Gordy to enter the race. He was first regarded as a 'forlorn' hope for the race--but eventually won the seat. Gordy was described as "a forthright, convincing speaker" who took "a strong stand for better roads, effective conservation policies and economy in government."
2001/02/25
Gordy made a bid in the state democratic primary for Governor in 1938. Trying to find out more information on that. I think that may provide a good background resource for his biography |
