voc2021 ep 38: Dr. Harry C. Rhodes

Photo courtesy of David Harp
www.ChesapeakePhotos.com

Seventh generation Eastern Shoreman, Harry Rhodes literally wrote the book about the his home rural area called “Queenstown: The Social History of a Small American Town.” In this 2007 interview for the www.VoicesoftheChesapeakeBay.net project, “Dr. Harry” tells of growing up on a farm near Wye Island, doing an arm’s length of chores (… and then we went to school). After attending Queenstown Elementary, Centreville High School, and Washington College (BFA), he earned his Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rhodes became a champion throughout his lifetime for public schools and civic duty, working first as a teacher and, later, as an administrator. He worked in various public service capacities throughout his career, as Executive Director of the Montgomery County Housing Administration, then principal of Poolesville School, in-between serving on a minesweeper during World War II. In 1952 he returned to his home turf where he helped design what became known as Queen Anne’s County High School, before also helping to found Chesapeake College. He was known to champion civil rights, and as contributor to the local volunteer fire department and to the local Boy Scouts of America. His boards of directors’ elections and other civic recognition included the county commissioner’s “Man of the Year” (1980) and “Local Hero” from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, serving as a town commissioner for three terms, on the board of Queenstown Bank for 32 years, and on the board of Memorial Hospital in Easton.

For this 03/22/07 interview we sat together in his living room overlooking Queenstown Creek with his wife Elizabeth looking on. She lived to 96 yrs. and he to 99 yrs.

Research from 7/14/14 obituary written by Jack Schaum, MyEasternshoreMD and other sources.