George Vincent McGowan

Retired Chairman and CEO of Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, Chairman of the University of Maryland Board of Regents, industry and community leader. George Vincent McGowan, retired Chairman and CEO of BGE, died peacefully and surrounded by family at the Hospice of Queen Anne’s County on November 5, 2009. He was 81 years old. He was born on January 30, 1928 in Baltimore to Joseph H. and Ethna Kirby McGowan. He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1946 and received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland in 1951. After graduation, he joined BGE and spent his entire business career there. Starting out as a young engineer, he ascended to the position of Chief Project Engineer of the Calvert Cliff’s Nuclear Power Plant, which he held from 1966 to 1974. He considered his involvement with this project to be the greatest achievement of his career. He became President and Chief Operating Officer, of BGE, serving from 1980 through 1987, and then Chairman of the Board and CEO from 1988 through 1992. He continued to serve as a board member through 2000. Mr. McGowan was also a member of the United States Army Reserves and was called into active duty from 1961 – 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He retired as a Major. In addition to BGE, his business contributions included board memberships of McCormick & Co., Baltimore Life Insurance Co., the Equitable Bank (through its merger with Nations Bank), UNC, Inc., Duratek, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), the U.S. Energy Association of the World Energy Council and Organization Resource Counselors, Inc. He also served as President of the Center Club in Baltimore for ten years and was a founding board member of Caves Valley Country Club. His community service included more than ten years of service on the Board of Regents of the University of Maryland, five of which he served as Chairman. Other civic board memberships included the United Way of Central Maryland, the College Bound Foundation, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Board of Overseers and Foundation (Chairman), Maryland Communication Center (Chairman), National Flag Day Foundation (Director), Preakness Celebration, Inc., (Honorary Director), Pride of Baltimore (Director), Queen Anne’s County Department of Business and Tourism (Director), University of Maryland Foundation (Honorary Director) and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (Governor). Mr. McGowan was a devoted husband and father. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Carol Murray McGowan; his sons, Gregg McGowan of Catonsville, Brad McGowan and wife, Mary of Pittsfield, NH, Fred Munn III and friend, Claudia of Churchville, Robert Munn and wife, Ranjitha of San Diego, CA and a granddaughter, Shala Munn of San Diego, CA. His marriage to Jeanne Stewart McGowan ended in divorce. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Centreville, MD from 3 – 5 and 7 – 9 PM. Service will be at Westminster Hall, 519 W. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21201 on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Crownsville Veteran Cemetery, Crownsville, MD at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Hospice of Queen’s Inc., 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617, Queen Anne Emergency Center Campaign c/o Memorial Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 1846, Easton MD 21601, Or the George and Carol McGowan Development Fund at the University of Baltimore Law School Development and Alumni Relations 1420 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201-5779.

George Vincent McGowan

January 30, 1928 - November 5, 2009