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American politician (1935–2023)

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Jennie M. Forehand
Forehand in 2011

Member of the Maryland Senate from the 17th district
In office January 11, 1995 – January 14, 2015
Preceded by	Mary H. Boergers
Succeeded by	Cheryl Kagan
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 17th district
In office 1978–1994
Preceded by	S. Frank Shore
Succeeded by	Cheryl Kagan

Personal details
Born	Jennie Margaret Meador (1935-12-17)December 17, 1935 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	October 3, 2023(2023-10-03) (aged 87) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	William Ellis Forehand Jr. (m. 1958)
Children	2
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BS)
Occupation	Businesswoman politician

Jennie Margaret Meador Forehand (December 17, 1935 – October 3, 2023) was an American businesswoman and legislator who served in the Maryland Senate, representing Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Garrett Park. She also served four terms in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Early life and family

Jennie Margaret Meador was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 17, 1935, to James Taylor Meador. She attended the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, North Carolina. She also attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Relations in 1958.

She married William Ellis Forehand Jr. in 1958. They had two children.

Career

Forehand founded Forehand Antiques and Interiors and worked as a teacher, juvenile court probation counselor, and statistician.

Political career

Forehand was appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1978 following the resignation of state delegate S. Frank Shore. She represented Montgomery County and its 17th district in the Maryland House of Delegates between until 1994, afterwards serving in the Maryland Senate from January 11, 1995, to January 14, 2015.

Issues

Transportation

Forehand kept transportation issues "on the front burner" for citizens and public officials. She served on the MD-DC-VA Regional Transportation Planning Board overseeing the strategic development and federal funding for the area's rail and roadway development. Forehand assisted the Inter-County Connector in continuing construction after years of delay.

Health

Forehand had a passion for health related issues. She played a leading role in making Maryland "smoke-free," gaining recognition from the American Cancer Society for her efforts. She was the first state legislator in the nation to propose prohibiting genetic-based discrimination in health insurance and in the workplace.

She supported the strategic expansion of local health care resources including the Adventist Hospital. As a director on the board of Hospice Caring, she helped create the facility.

Forehand gave many speeches on depression as the result of her mother's recovery from severe clinical depression. She was a "founding mother" of Rockville's JLG Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA), a community-based, clinical and educational facility serving those with severe emotional disabilities.

Economic development

As a legislator, Forehand had a knack for recognizing early on the technologies and trends that would affect her constituents and the state economy.

Forehand was a very early advocate for the biotechnology industry and promoted its economic potential for Montgomery County by introducing legislation to promote venture capital investment in start-up companies and facilitate community-based "business incubators".

Environment

A supporter of Program Open Space to protect park and recreation areas in the State, Forehand was there at the beginning as this program took shape. As recently as 2009, she successfully fought on the Senate floor against restrictions that would have devastated POS programs in her district.

Forehand served on the Department of Environment's Task Force on Attaining Federal Air Quality Standards and was responsible for the first pilot program to test emission from diesel trucks. She cosponsored environmental legislation in the Senate.

Women

Forehand was president of the Women's Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and president of the Women Legislators of Maryland.

Early on in her career, Forehand took the lead on issues including domestic violence, day care access, family leave, child support, reproductive freedom and greater representation of women in the judiciary. Her efforts won her recognition as a "Trailblazer" from the Women's Bar Association and put her into the Maryland's Top 100 Women Circle of Excellence.

Later life and death

Forehand did not run for re-election in 2014 and retired in January 2015.

After retiring from the state legislature, she and her husband moved to Indianapolis. She died from Alzheimer's disease on October 3, 2023, at the age of 87.

Awards

2009 — Maryland Department of Transportation Champion of Traffic Safety
2008 — National Institutes of Health Director's Award for Leadership & Biosafety Oversight Maryland Municipal League Municipal Super Star Award
2007 — Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) Award
2006 — Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work MD State Senator of the Year; UMBI Biotechnology Leadership Award
2005 — Citizens' Review Board for Children Champion for Children Award; Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Clean Air Advocate
2003 — Montgomery County Business and Professional Women Woman of the Year
2003 — Daily Record Maryland's Top 100 Women Circle of Excellence (for being named to Maryland's Top 100 Women three times); Rockville Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Maryland Impaired Driving Coalition Distinguished Legislator Award
2002 — MADD Award of Excellence; American Cancer Society True Champion; Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Transportation Leader of the Year
2001 — Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade Leader of the Year; Marylanders for Efficient and Safe Highways Transportation Advocate of the Year Award
1999 — Daily Record Maryland's Top 100 Women; Maryland Municipal League Award
1998 — MD State's Attorneys Association Senator of the Year; Asbury Village President's Award for Service; The Greater Washington Board of Trade Intercounty Connector Award
1996 — American Massage Therapy Association, Maryland Chapter Award; Montgomery County Medical Society Legislator of the Year
1993 — Women's Bar Association's Margaret Brent Trailblazer Award
1993 — Suburban Maryland High Technology Council Technology Leadership Award; Montgomery County Medical Society Outstanding Legislator of the Year
1992 — Maryland Planned Parenthood Public Affairs Award
1991 — Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Community Service Award
1988 — Montgomery County Arts Council Outstanding Advocate Award
1987 — Johns Hopkins University Peabody Medallion Award
1986 — Maryland College of Art and Design President's Award

References

^ "Jennie Forehand Obituary". Legacy.com.
^ "Jennie M. Forehand". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ "To Wed This Summer". The Huntsville Times. February 16, 1958. p. 11. Retrieved October 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
"Jennie M. Forehand (D)". The Washington Post. October 31, 2002. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^ "Senator Jennie Forehand" (PDF). montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
"House of Delegates, Legislative Districts 17 (1975-1990)". Maryland State Archives. April 30, 1999. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
"Montgomery's Forehand retiring from Senate". The Baltimore Sun. January 4, 2014. p. A4. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

Jennie M. Forehand papers at the University of Maryland Libraries

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