Louis L. Goldstein (1913-1998) is elected Comptroller of Maryland. He is elected to the office 9 more times, serving longer than any other comptroller. As the best known politician in Maryland, he is running for office again upon his death at 85. Except for his 4 years of service in the Marine Corps in World War II, he is a public servant as a Maryland delegate, senator and comptroller for 54 years. His service is among the longest in the country.
The son of a Prussian Jewish immigrant who becomes a retailer in Calvert County, Goldstein builds on his father’s success and eventually owns 2,000 Maryland acres, primarily in Calvert County. His political career in the state is legendary and unmatched. Handling Maryland’s money as comptroller, he maintains the state’s financial engine at a high level, introducing many improvements to the comptroller operations.. With boundless energy and a love of all things Maryland, Goldstein is a constantly good-natured and a popular presence. It is said that the ubiquitous Mr. Goldstein must be cloned since he has attended events in Oakland and Ocean City on the same day. His favorite slogan, known to all, is “God bless y’all real good”.
A statue in Annapolis captures Louis Goldstein pleasant down-to-earth style. His comptroller’s office has been dismantled and reconstructed at the Jefferson Patterson Museum in Calvert County.
