W. Dale Hess

Walter Dale Hess
Walter Dale Hess
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates; from the Harford County district
	In office; 1955–1970 Serving with Thomas J. Hatem, Charles M. Moore, Joseph D. Tydings, Morton H. Getz, W. Lester Davis, C. Stanley Blair, John W. Hardwicke, R. Wilson Scarff, William C. Greer, Winton B. Osborne
Personal details
Born	August 17, 1930; Fallston, Maryland, U.S.
Died	October 22, 2016 (aged 86); Fallston, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marie Ritchie
Children	4
Occupation	Politician; farmer; realtor;

Walter Dale Hess (August 17, 1930 – October 22, 2016) was an American politician, farmer and realtor from Maryland. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Harford County, from 1955 to 1970.

Early life

Walter Dale Hess was born on August 17, 1930, in Fallston, Maryland, to Anita Chenworth and St. Clair Hess. He attended Harford County Public Schools.^[1] He graduated from Bel Air High School in 1947.^[2]

Career

Hess was a Democratic. Hess served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Harford County, from 1955 to 1970.^[1]^[3] He was the majority floor leader from 1963 to 1966 and the majority whip from 1967 to 1968.^[1]

After leaving the House of Delegates, he became vice president of Tidewater Insurance. In 1977, Hess was convicted of mail fraud and racketeering. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but the charges were dropped in federal appeals court. After prison, he founded a bank in York, Pennsylvania.^[2]

Hess was a farmer and realtor. He held interests in land, motels, apartments and shopping centers in Harford County. He served as president of the Harford County Democratic Club. He served as national vice president of Futures Farmers of America.^[1]^[2]

Personal life

Hess married Marie Ritchie. They had four children.^[1]

Hess died from complications of cancer on October 22, 2016, at his home in Fallston.^[1]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "W. Dale Hess". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. October 25, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kelly, Jacques (October 24, 2016). "W. Dale Hess, Harford County businessman and politician, dies". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
^ "Historical List, House of Delegates, Harford County (1790-1974)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. April 30, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

[msa-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "W. Dale Hess". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. October 25, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

[obit-2] Kelly, Jacques (October 24, 2016). "W. Dale Hess, Harford County businessman and politician, dies". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

[3] "Historical List, House of Delegates, Harford County (1790-1974)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. April 30, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

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