Robert H. Kittleman (January 31, 1926 – September 11, 2004) was a state senator in Maryland's District 9, which covers parts of Carroll County and Howard County for the two years prior to his death. Prior to that he was a Maryland state delegate for nearly 19 years in District 14B, which covered parts of Howard and Montgomery County. In the House he served as minority leader for a number of years. He was the father of Maryland former state senator and former Howard County executive Allan H. Kittleman.

Robert H. Kittleman
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 9th district
In office
January 8, 2003 – September 11, 2004
Preceded byAndy Harris
Succeeded byAllan H. Kittleman
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 11, 2002 – January 8, 2003
Preceded byChristopher J. McCabe
Succeeded byRona E. Kramer
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 14B district
In office
January 12, 1983 – January 10, 2002
Preceded byHugh Burgess
Anne E. Baker
Succeeded byGail H. Bates
Personal details
Born(1926-01-31)January 31, 1926
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedSeptember 11, 2004(2004-09-11) (aged 78)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Sue Kittleman, Patrica Pyles Kittleman, Trent Kittleman[1]
Children5, including Allan H. Kittleman

Education

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Kittleman received his B.S. in engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1947.

Career

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Kittleman served in the United States Navy from 1943-46 stationed at Guam. He then worked for Westinghouse Electric Company for 26 years until 1984. He also was a farmer during this time.[2]

Bob was an active participant in the civil rights movement, pursuing desegregation of Howard County Schools which lasted more than a decade past the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling.[3] As chair of the NAACP Education Committee, he argued their case to the Board of Education (see BOE minutes, page 154) [4] and later became the only white president of the Howard County branch of the NAACP.[5]

He was a chair of the Howard County Republican Central Committee, and was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). In 1978 Kittleman ran for the Howard County Council, In 1982, he made his first run for Maryland House of Delegates.[6]

Kittleman received many awards including First Life Achievement Award in 1986 and the John W. Holland Humanitarian Award in 2004.

Election results

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Maryland Route 32 in Howard County is dedicated to former Senator Robert Kittleman.
Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1978 Howard County Council, District 5 General Robert H. Kittleman Republican  
2002 Maryland State Senate General Robert Kittleman Republican 40,133 98.2% Write Ins 746
  • 2002 Race for Maryland State Senate – District 4[7]
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Robert H. Kittleman, Rep. 40,133   98.2%    Won
Other Write-Ins 746   1.8%    Lost

References and notes

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  1. ^ Bernstein, Adam (September 13, 2004). "Md. Legislator Quietly Guided GOP". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ Donovan, Doug (September 12, 2004). "Robert H. Kittleman : 1926-2004". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Truces Eases Row in Howard". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ "Howard County Board of Education minutes, January 7, 1964" (PDF). Howard County Board of Education minutes. Howard County Board of Education.
  5. ^ "ABOUT US". HoCoNAACP. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Jeanne Garland (May 12, 1982). "Kittleman marches to his Own drum in bid for House of Delegates seat". The Baltimore Sun.
  7. ^ "State Senate Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2002. Retrieved October 4, 2007.
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Maryland House of Delegates
Preceded by
Hugh Burgess
Anne E. Baker
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 14B district

1983–2002
Served alongside: Edward J. Kasemeyer, Robert Flanagan
Succeeded by
Maryland Senate
Preceded by
Christopher J. McCabe
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 14th district

2002–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 9th district

2003–2004
Succeeded by