Rose Hay, 1919-2009

Rose Hay was initially appointed by Governor Marvin Mandel to fill a vacancy as judge on the Allegany County Orphan’s Court. She would later run for this position and in 1978 became the first woman elected to the Orphan’s Court. Re-elected in 1982 she would serve as Chief Judge until her retirement in 1986.

Rose was also the first woman in Allegany County to be honored by the Democratic Central Committee as “Mrs. Democrat” in 1996. Rose Hay helped establish the Allegany County Mental Health Association and served as its volunteer director for 27 years, and for 25 years was vice-president of the South Cumberland Library Association. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown.

In celebration of Women's History Month, 2007, the Allegany County Commission for Women recognized Rose Hay.