Bowie State to Name Building in Honor of the Late Md. Delegate Proctor

Proctor’s Legacy of Public Service Lives on at Bowie State

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 (mobile)

(BOWIE, Md.) – The late Maryland Delegate James E. Proctor Jr., who served Prince George’s and Charles counties for 25 years, will be recognized for his dedication to promoting quality education for all when Bowie State University names an academic building in his honor on Wednesday, April 12 at 12 p.m. It will be the university’s first building named in honor of a supporter.

“The Bowie State University community appreciates the continued support from the Proctor family and is proud to celebrate and honor Delegate Proctor’s legacy,” said President Mickey L. Burnim. “Our students will long benefit from the impact of his commitment to education, Bowie State, our community and state.”  

A two-time Bowie State graduate, Proctor was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and a faithful champion of education across the state until his death in 2015. As vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee, he worked to ensure state investments in higher education, resulting in about $200 million in state funds for construction and renovation projects at Bowie State.

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Bowie State, he spent more than 30 years in Prince George’s County schools as a teacher and principal. The building that will bear his name houses the College of Education, where Delegate Proctor received his degrees. Currently called the Center for Learning and Technology, it provides specialized spaces for courses in multiple disciplines and uses some of the latest educational innovations.

Proctor’s wife, Delegate Susie Proctor, also a two-time graduate of Bowie State, worked closely with university administrators to find significant ways to honor her husband’s legacy. With a $500,000 gift, the family established the James E. Proctor Jr. Endowed Scholarship at Bowie State to make higher education possible for more students.

“My husband loved his alma mater and was an ardent supporter of Bowie State University,” said Proctor. “His legacy will continue to live on and will expand opportunities for students pursuing their educational goals at Bowie State University.”

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