Hot News

6.17.2008

By BRUCE HOTCHKISS
Senior Editor

DENTON, Md. — An estimated 250 people from all walks of life on Sunday gathered under and around a tent on a the lawn of a family farm named “Controversie,” the site for a memorial service for Wayne A. Cawley Jr., Maryland’s second secretary of agriculture who led the Maryland Department of Agriculture to a position of prominence as a member of the cabinet of two governors.
Mr. Cawley died on the evening of June 9, at home, in the Caroline County farmhouse where he was born. He was 84.
The Caroline County farmer and banker, before being tapped by then Gov. Harry Hughes as his ag secretary, left an indelible mark on the history of Maryland agriculture.
Indeed, that legacy is celebrated by the present MDA headquarters in Annapolis, which is named after him to honor his service.
The sprawling hilltop facility on Harry S. Truman Drive — Mr. Cawley always appreciated that, both were Democrats — and visible from Route 50, was built during his administration.
Mr. Cawley left his Denton farm for Annapolis in 1979 succeeding the late Y.D. Hance, Maryland’s first secretary of agriculture. It was during Hance’s tenure that the administration of the agricultural industry in the state finally attained cabinet status.
In his 12 years at the MDA helm, serving under both Gov., Hughes and then Gov. William Donald Schaefer, the outspoken and often irascible Mr. Cawley made certain that the role and influence of the state’s No. 1 industry was never underestimated.
Roger Richardson, the current and Maryland’s seventh MDA secretary, had high praise for the man who served the most years in that post.
“Secretary Cawley was highly respected for his knowledge of agriculture and the financial needs of farmers,” said Richardson. “He believed that the primary job of the Maryland Department of Agriculture was to represent the interests of the farmer and he did that well throughout his career.”
Earl “Buddy” Hance, who serves under Richardson as deputy MDA secretary, said “Wayne Cawley was an excellent secretary who was active in the agriculture community his entire life. He served as a mentor and advisor to me as I worked in various farm organizations and especially after being appointed as deputy secretary. He will be greatly missed.”
“Secretary Cawley was a true man of the soil and a tireless advocate for farm families across the state,” said Michael Phipps, president of the Maryland Farm Bureau, adding Cawley “worked extremely well with Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations in order to help educate legislators and regulators of the importance of farming to the social and economic fabric of the state. He will truly be missed.”
Lewis Riley, veteran Maryland lawmaker and immediate past ag secretary, started his career in the state legislature the same year Mr. Cawley became ag secretary. When Cawley retired, Riley became deputy secretary.
“I liked him very much. I considered him a good friend,” said Riley. “He was firm in his point of view, and he was usually right.”
Noting that Mr. Cawley was the longest serving ag secretary in the state, Riley said, “He was a real asset to the agricultural industry. He certainly had the farmers at heart. He never felt above those he represented. He was really Mr. Agriculture all the way around.”
In the waning years of his life, Mr. Cawley — whose beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara, died in July 2002 — continued to live alone in the big family farmhouse on the outskirts of Denton in which he was born.
Although he was aware of his failing health, he was ever-faithful to that pack of cigarettes in his pocket.
He had tried to quit, but admitted he was “hooked.”
Asked casually about his health at a meeting last fall of an informal group known as the “Ag Legends,” Mr. Cawley replied, without remorse, “Oh I feel fine,” adding, , as he tapped his shirt pocket, “but I still have to have one of these every so often.”
Mr. Cawley was born on Oct. 4, 1923. After graduation from Caroline County High School, he received his bachelor of arts degree in economics from Washington College in 1948 and attended the University of Maryland Law School. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division’s 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and saw combat in Europe during World War II.
Prior to being appointed to his cabinet post, he served for 15 years as vice president of the Denton National Bank and was director of the bank’s Farm Department. He also worked with federal officials in designing a national model project for Federal Crop Insurance in Caroline County. He had been a member of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the University of Maryland’s Board of Regents.
Mr. Cawley had also been a vice president of the Caroline County Farm Bureau, president of the Denton Rotary Club, a leader of Tuckahoe 4-H Club, treasurer of the Denton Boy Scouts, president of the local PTA, a member of the Vocational School Committee and the Adult Education Committee of Chesapeake College, a member of various ASCS committees and a member of the Tri-County Crop Improvement Association.
In 1974, he was named Caroline County “Outstanding Farmer” in honor then of 25 years of service to farming in Caroline County.
That contribution to the county’s ag industry continued even after he was named ag secretary. Following his MDA appointment, his 1,000-acre grain farming operation was taken over by three of his sons.
When Mr. Cawley stepped down as ag secretary, he did so with no regret, certainly aware that he had made a mark.
“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em,” he said. “Dirt farmers know when to go home.”
Mr. Cawley is survived by four sons: W. Archie Cawley III of Denton, Charles C. Cawley of Denton, Lance C. Cawley of Great Falls, Va., and Gail F. Cawley of Denton; a daughter, Lynn C. Wilson of Alexandria, Va.; 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilbert H. Cawley and Bryant M. Cawley; and a sister, Ida Mae Boyce.
The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Caroline Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 362, Denton, MD 21629.