Elmer Edward Horsey

Elmer Edward Horsey, age 90, of Chestertown, MD, died on January 1, 2023. He was the son of the late Martha Williams and Harvey Strickler Horsey of Easton, MD. Mr. Horsey graduated from Easton High School in 1949 and from the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He entered the United States Air Force as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. Upon his honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant, he worked for the Granger and Faw Accounting firm in Salisbury before moving permanently to their Chestertown office. He later became the President and Treasurer of Nylon Capital Shopping Center, Inc., an entity owned by the late Louisa d’A. Carpenter, retiring in 2019, after 54 years of employment. Mr. Horsey was active with the Kent County little league baseball program and coached the Rotary Team with assistant, Edward Lee “Sonny” Townsend. His team was undefeated in their final year in the spring of 1970. Mr. Horsey is fondly remembered for picking his players up in his special bus and treating them to ice cream at the Tastee Freeze at the end of the game. Mr. Horsey and the now deceased Walter Kirby introduced little league football to Kent County in the fall of 1970. Mr. Horsey was a Past President and member of the Chestertown Rotary Club for 30 years, a longtime member and Past President of the Chester River Yacht and Country Club, a member of the Chestertown Elks Lodge, Frank M. Jarman American Legion Post 36, and a life member of the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company. He was the Director and Secretary/Treasurer of the Florida Breeders’ Sales Company from 1969 to 1981. He served on the Maryland State Handgun Permit Review Board for 23 years and served as a Maryland State Roads Commissioner for 20 years – a position he held at the time of his death. He served as the campaign treasurer for the gubernatorial and comptroller elections for William Donald Schaefer and was a Trustee of the Government House Foundation for many years. He served as President of the Eastern Shore Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League. He was a member of the Board and past Chairman of The Peoples Bank. Mr. Horsey served four terms as Mayor of Chestertown beginning in 1978. He oversaw a major redevelopment of Chestertown’s historic downtown area, including brick sidewalks. He was instrumental, along with the Chestertown Council, in eliminating nearly all of Chestertown’s dilapidated housing areas and adding new residential units. Fifty-eight senior low income rental units, 154 low income rental units and 349 regular apartments and houses, were constructed while he was Mayor. The Chestertown Business Park, Radcliffe Industrial Park, the bringing together of the Washington College campus by closing Gibson Avenue, and expanding town limits with the annexations of Foxley Manor, Coventry Farms and Stepne Manor were all completed during his terms. He had the vision to purchase and develop six acres of Chestertown’s abandoned waterfront industrial district now named Wilmer Park. He doubled the capacity of both water and sewer while meeting EPA guidelines. He was also instrumental in paving the way for Heron Point to be developed, negotiating and obtaining approvals with various state agencies on their behalf. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patricia Joan Ozman Horsey; two children, Elizabeth Anne Horsey and Gary Edward Horsey (Melissa); three step-children, Tracye Eve Smith Landon (Walter “Pete”), Scott Ozman Smith (Shari), and Todd Bringman Smith (Diane); two grandchildren, Jennifer Ashley Horsey White (Tegan) and Lauren Nicholson Horsey; five step-grandchildren, Frank Ozman Smith (Jessica), Kathryn Macey Smith Parker (Wes), Carli Crew Smith, James Thomas Ozman Landon and Baker Fallon Horsey Landon; a great-grandson, William Kade White; and a step-great-granddaughter, Frankie Olive Smith. A brother, Harvey S. Horsey II, and four sisters, Janith Horsey Collin, Emily Horsey Edwards, Eloise Horsey Cannoles and Evelyn Horsey McPhillips predeceased him. “Mayor Horsey was the perfect mayor for Chestertown when he was elected in 1978. His energy and financial expertise were essential to the dramatic changes that would follow. Mr. Horsey put the Town of Chestertown on the map by making sure that our state legislators and governors knew we were over here. My sixteen years of working with him were filled with the joys of shared successes that came from his drive, work ethic and determination”. --William S. “Bill” Ingersoll, Town Manager “We are saddened by the loss of Elmer E. Horsey. We’ve lost a great man who truly loved Kent County, and for that, he will be greatly missed. His service to the community rings true as he served as the Mayor of Chestertown for 16 years. In 1979, he agreed to serve as a member of the Kent County Economic Development Advisory Board and continued to do so until 2000. Elmer’s skills were then called upon to aid Kent County for a couple of years by serving as the Director of Economic Development. Elmer was a long-standing State Roads Commission member and a life member of the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Station 6. His efforts were many, but he always held Kent County close to his heart. In some ways, Elmer was larger than life. Personally, I was lucky enough to call him a lifelong friend. I sought his advice throughout the years, and we enjoyed a mutual respect that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I hope the Horsey family finds peace in knowing that Elmer’s contributions made a difference in Kent County. -- Ronald H. “Ron” Fithian,President of the County Commissioners of Kent County, MD. In a memorial tribute to Mr. Horsey, Governor Larry Hogan and Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford were grateful to honor him for “an extraordinary life whose generous spirit, strength of character, and commitment to public service greatly benefited Chestertown, Kent County, and the State of Maryland enriching the lives of all who had the pleasure and honor of knowing him.” Condolences were offered with great respect and admiration reflecting on his positive and lasting legacy on behalf of his family, friends and beloved Eastern Shore conferring a Governor's Citation as a memorial tribute to the Elmer E. "Chief" Horsey. “…there is not enough space to describe what a wonderful difference Mr. Horsey made during his lifetime - a real leader in the greatest generation. I fondly remember his many visits to the office and events when William Donald Schaefer was reigning King of our state". -- Donna Schuman, Administrator in the Office of the Governor Friends may visit the family from noon until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, at 19 Byford Court in Chestertown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Kent and Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 126, Chestertown, MD 21620; Chestertown Volunteer Fire Co., 211 Maple Ave., Chestertown, MD; Emmanuel Church Preservation Fund, 101 N. Cross St., Chestertown, MD 21620. Interment was in the family cemetery.

Elmer Edward Horsey

July 29, 1932 - January 1, 2023