Thomas A. Rymer
Judge of the Calvert County Circuit Court
In office 1987–1995
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 29A district
In office 1983–1988
Preceded by	district established
Succeeded by	George W. Owings III
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 30A district
In office 1975–1982
Preceded by	district established
Succeeded by	districts merged
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office 1971–1974
Preceded by	Arthur W. Dowell Jr.
Succeeded by	legislative districts established
Constituency	Calvert County, Maryland
State's attorney of Calvert County
In office 1966–1970
Personal details
Born	Thomas Arrington Rymer (1925-02-10)February 10, 1925 Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	April 15, 2016(2016-04-15) (aged 91)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Louise Carpenter Grace Mead Garrett ​ (m. 1977)​
Children	3
Education	University of Maryland
Alma mater	Cornell University (BCE) George Washington University Law School (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Lieutenant (junior grade)
Battles/wars	World War II

Thomas A. Rymer (February 10, 1925 – April 15, 2016) was an American politician and judge. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Calvert County from 1971 to 1974, District 30A from 1975 to 1982 and District 29A from 1983 to 1988. Rymer also served as judge of the Calvert County Circuit Court from 1987 to 1995 and as state's attorney of Calvert County from 1966 to 1970.

Early life

Thomas Arrington Rymer^[1] was born on February 10, 1925, in Asheville, North Carolina.^[2] Rymer and his family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1939.^[3] He attended Western High School in Washington, D.C. Rymer then attended the University of Maryland and joined the V-12 Navy College Training Program.^[2][3] Rymer graduated from Cornell University in 1948 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. He then graduated from George Washington University Law School with a J.D. in 1955. He was admitted to the bar in Maryland in 1958.^[2]

Career

Rymer served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He enlisted as a ensign and became a lieutenant (junior grade). After the military, he worked in engineering and construction positions, including as an engineer for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and designing and building houses in Montgomery County.^[2][3] Rymer worked in government positions in the Army, Navy, and the U.S. Secretary of Defense's office. In 1964, he became the director of the Air Force Military Construction Program.^[3]

Rymer began practicing law in Prince Frederick in 1964. Rymer was elected as the state's attorney for Calvert County in 1966 and served in that role until 1970. He also served as an attorney for North Beach and the Calvert County Board of Education.^[2]

Rymer was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1971 to 1988, representing Calvert County from 1971 to 1974, District 30A from 1975 to 1982 and District 29A from 1983 to 1988. He also served as the majority whip from 1978 to 1986. He was a Democrat.^[2][4][5][6]

In 1987, Rymer was appointed by Governor William Donald Schaefer as judge of the Calvert County Circuit Court. He served until his mandatory retirement date in 1995. He continued sitting on circuit and district courts in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's and Prince George's County after his retirement. He also served in a three judge panel for the Federal Land Commission in Baltimore.^[3]

Personal life

Rymer married Louise Carpenter. They had three children: Gary C. Rymer, Thomas A. Rymer Jr. and Ronald C. Rymer. Rymer married again in 1977 to Grace Mead Garrett. He died on April 15, 2016.^[2]

References