Helen Delich Bentley
HOLLYWOOD, MD — On August 7, Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the Maryland State Flag be lowered to half-staff to honor of former Maryland Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley, who passed away on August 6, 2016.
Helen Delich Bentley, born on Nov. 28, 1923 was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland from 1985 to 1995. Before entering politics, she had been a maritime reporter and journalist.
Beginning in 1950, Bentley hosted a local Baltimore TV program on WMAR, The Port That Built A City, presenting maritime and transportation-related news. Later retitled The Port That Built a City and State, the series was produced by Bentley until 1965 and included then-novel live remotes from the decks of ships in Baltimore harbor during the early years of television.
In 1969, Bentley was offered a seat on the Federal Maritime Commission, however she declined and asked for the position of chair instead. She was appointed, and chaired the commission from 1969 to 1975, which granted her the highest-ranking woman in President Nixon’s administration. During her tenure, Bentley advocated for federal support for American shipbuilding yards.
In 2004, Bentley was inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame.
In 2006, as part of the port of Baltimore’s 300th anniversary celebrations, the port was re-named the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore.[8]
Bentley was also a member of the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the Speaker’s Medallion, First Citizen Award and Governor’s International Leadership Award from the state government of Maryland.
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