Spellman, Gladys Noon (1918–1988)

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Spellman, Gladys Noon (1918–1988)

U.S. congressional representative from Maryland (January 3, 1975–February 24, 1981). Born Gladys Blossom Noon in New York City on March 1, 1918; died in Rockville, Maryland, on June 19, 1988; daughter of Henry Noon and Bessie G. Noon; educated at public schools in New York City and Washington, D.C.; attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and the graduate school of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; married Reuben Spellman; children: Stephen, Richard, Dana, and Eric.

Born Gladys Blossom Noon in 1918 in New York City, Gladys Spellman received her early education in New York City and Washington, D.C., before enrolling in George Washington University. Following graduate work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she taught in the public schools of Prince Georges County, Maryland. She initially became involved in politics through her 1962 election to the Prince Georges County Board of Commissioners, winning re-election in 1966. Her three-year term as councilwoman-at-large, beginning in 1971, catapulted her into a bid for the Fifth District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat. She won election that year to the first of three terms in Congress.

Spellman focused much of her attention on the civil service during her career in Congress. She supported the training of civil servants in labor-management relations through a proposed amendment to the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, and rejected hiring and promotion restrictions of federal workers. When President Jimmy Carter proposed reforms to the civil service system in 1978, she opposed the measures, reserving special criticism for the Senior Executive Service as something which would politicize the civil service. She favored adjusted cost-of-living increases for those retired from the military and federal notification of retirees' spouses if they would not be receiving survivors' benefits. As a member of the Committee on Banking, Currency and Housing, Spellman voted for a proposal authorizing $7 billion in loan guarantees to

help pull New York City out of severe financial difficulties in 1975. Two years later, she supported the establishment of a bank to provide loans to consumer-owned cooperatives, and an extension of the federal revenue-sharing program.

On October 31, 1980, Spellman suffered a heart attack while on the campaign trail to her fourth term in office. Although only semi-conscious during the balloting four days later, she was re-elected by an overwhelming majority. Unfortunately, she proved unable to discharge her duties of office, and her seat was declared vacant on February 24, 1981. Her husband Reuben Spellman ran in nomination for her office in the special primary held in April, but finished second in a field of six. Gladys Spellman died on June 19, 1988.