The following is a list of notable alumni of The Baltimore City College (also known colloquially as City College, City, BCC, or The Castle). Founded in 1839, it is recognized as the third-oldest continuously public high school in the United States.
The school was established after a long civic campaign for higher public education during the early 19th century by an act of the Baltimore City Council in March 1839 and opened the following October in a rented town / rowhouse. Hundreds of influential civic, political, business, commercial, industrial, and cultural leaders have passed through its doors at eight geographic sites in the 185 years since. Many graduates of City College have served as members of the United States Congress (U.S. senators and representatives), state senators and delegates in the General Assembly of Maryland, the Baltimore City Council, the adjacent surrounding separate Baltimore County Council, and federal, state and local circuit judges. Alumni also include award-winning journalists; authors; and leaders in business, commerce, the military, academics, the sciences, and the arts. This list includes three former governors of Maryland, six mayors of Baltimore and county executives, and recipients of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Wolf Prize. Of the seven Maryland recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor between World War I and World War II, three were graduates of the Baltimore City College. Numerous bridges, highways, buildings, lunar craters, institutions, monuments, and professorships throughout the region, state and nation have been named for B.C.C. "Collegians".
Arts and entertainment
Alumni Class Reason for notability1931Musician1943Two-time Pulitzer Prize, commentator on the Masterpiece Theatre on (PBS-TV)1958Jazz musician, Grammy Award winner1928Abstract expressionist painter1962Author of over 50 science fiction/fantasy novels1964Broadway actor, Tony Award nominee1954*(left to attend the University of Chicago)Avant garde composer1933Leonhart (1939), p. 293.Painter; works are in permanent collections at the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Phillips Collection, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City1918Leonhart (1939), p. 280.Musician, conductor1904Character actor and voice narrator in film, television, and stage1933Leonhart (1939), p. 296.Author, screenwriter; helped create the film/television cartoon character of "Mr. Magoo"1967?Rock musician, radio host1940Radio talk show host in Washington, D.C. and New York1984Author1933Game show host in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s1946News anchor WBAL-TV (Channel 11), local TV variety and game show host, announcer1928Writer, won Academy Award ("Oscar") and Golden Globe for screenplay of Battleground1937Television and radio host1993Singer, member of Dru Hill1932Poet; literary critic; professor, Johns Hopkins University; Pulitzer Prize winner1919Leonhart (1939), p. 281.Poet and founder of Aesthetic Realism1962Actor, appeared in 1990s legal television drama L.A. Law and earlier Diner (in 1982, first of a series of feature films about Baltimore life, produced / directed by fellow Baltimorean Barry Levinson)1942Writer, author of Exodus 1930 Television and film writer, producer; director; credits include Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Virginian and Playhouse 901929Composer1870Author, civil libertarian, and attorney
Business
Alumni Class Reason for notability1887Leonhart (1939), p. 274.Founder of Abercrombie & Fitch1956President and chairman of the Cordish Company1955President, Abell Foundation 1967President and chief executive officer (C.E.O.) of The Harbor Bank of Maryland1961United States Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs, Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs financial firm1924Leonhart (1939), p. 284Co-founder of the former Baltimore Colts pro football franchise1916Leonhart (1939), p. 279President of McCormick & Company, nationally famous spice and foods manufacturer1915Leonhart (1939), p. 279. builder of the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in Charles Center 1915Business tycoon, and former longtime president of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 1930President, Mercantile Safe Deposit, Bank & Trust Company of Baltimore1927Founder of the Londontown Manufacturing Company1952M.D., chief executive officer (C.E.O.), University of Maryland Medical System / University of Maryland Hospital at U.M. at Baltimore 1949Founder, Martins West-Martins Caterers, located off the Baltimore Beltway (Interstate 695), west of the city 1926Leonhart (1939), p. 286.Co-founder/owner of the Baltimore Colts 1966Co-founder of The Carlyle Group, an investment capital firm, Arranged new local ownership group to purchase the Baltimore Orioles1937Owner, Charley Rudo Sports1958President, Atlanta Braves (Major League Baseball (MLB) in the National League) in Atlanta, Georgia1913Leonhart (1939), p. 278.Electrical engineer and business tycoon1960Philanthropist; Senior Vice President, United Parcel Service (U.P.S,)
Clergy and education
Alumni Class Reason for notability1897Economist, Yale University; President, American Economic Association (1927)1954Head of Advertising and Public Relations Drake University School of Journalism1961Bishop, Fifth Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church1905Leonhart (1939), p. 275.Dean, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine1964Dean of Graduate Studies, MIT (1999–present)1927President, Teachers College, Columbia University; Superintendent, Baltimore City Public School System, enforced the desegregation of the school system1868Leonhart (1939), p. 273.Political scientist, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University; President, American Political Science Association1928Chemist; president, Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin; National Medal of Science; Vannevar Bush Award (1993)1878Dean, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1899–1911)1928Former President, American Jewish Congress1889Dean of faculty, professor, Johns Hopkins University1953Biographer of Benjamin Franklin, du Pont Winterthur Professor of English at the University of Delaware1935Leonhart (1939), p. 298.Political scientist, Harvard University (1948–1984)1921Leonhart (1939), p. 282.Dean of Students, mathematician, Johns Hopkins University; member, Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame1908Burgess Professor of Public Law, Columbia University (1920–1959); director, Social Science Research Council (1934–36), and prolific writer1967President, University of Baltimore, former Dean, Howard University School of Law; 47th Mayor, City of Baltimore1902Founding President, Mansfield University of PennsylvaniaMethodist minister, educator, and the co-founder of Goucher College1960First African American Bishop of the Episcopal Church1894Longest serving superintendent, Baltimore City Public School System 1924–19451888President, Towson University; Superintendent, Baltimore City Public School System
Government and politics
Congress
Alumni Class Reason for notability1879U.S. congressman, Maryland's 3rd congressional district (1897–1899)1960U.S. senator, Maryland (2007–2025); U.S. congressman, Maryland's 3rd congressional district (1988–2007)1886U.S. congressman, Maryland's 3rd congressional district (1913–1921)1969U.S. congressman, Maryland's 7th congressional district (1996–2019)1963U.S. congressman, Maryland's 2nd congressional district (2003–2025)1866U.S. congressman, Maryland's 3rd congressional district (1886–1897)1918U.S. senator, Missouri (1953–1976); 1st United States Secretary of the Air Force (1947–1950)
Governors
Alumni Class Reason for notability1937Leonhart (1939), p. 301.56th governor of Maryland1898Leonhart (1939), p. 171.50th governor of Maryland1939Leonhart (1939), p. 306.58th governor of Maryland; 45th mayor of Baltimore; 32nd comptroller of Maryland
State legislature
Alumni Class Reason for notability1967Delegate, District 43, Baltimore (1983–1995, 2003–2023); longest serving chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation (2006–2018)1905Delegate, Baltimore County, 19141926Delegate (1936–38); judge, Baltimore Supreme Bench Delegate, Baltimore County (1920) and state senator, Baltimore County (1935–1937)1994Delegate, District 43A Baltimore (2023–present)1968Delegate, District 40, Baltimore City (1987–2005)1966State senator, District 40, Baltimore City (1991–2007); delegate (1983–1991)1949State senator, District 44, Baltimore City (1967–1994) 1964Delegate, District 7 Baltimore County (1979–1983, 2003–present)1964State senator, District 45, Baltimore City (1995–present)1964Delegate, District 34, Harford County (1999–2003, 2007–present)1968Delegate, District 41, Baltimore City (1983–present)1950Lieutenant governor (1986–1994); president of Maryland State Senate (1983–1986); state senator (1967–1986)1953State senator, District 45, Baltimore County (1966–present)
Judiciary
Alumni Class Reason for notability1858Leonhart (1939), p. 272.Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, judge (1903–1906)1915United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, judge (1959–1997)1946Circuit court, Baltimore City, chief judge (1984–1998), judge (1967–1998)1919Maryland Court of Appeals, chief judge (1966–1971), judge (1952–1966)1899Maryland Court of Appeals, chief judge (1944–1952), judge (1941–1944)1937United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, circuit judge (1979–2000)1917Maryland Court of Appeals, judge (1964–1967)1939Circuit court, Baltimore City, judge (1980–1992)1965United States District Court for the District of Maryland, judge (2003–present)1877 (left to attend University of Maryland)United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, circuit judge (1922–1927) United States District Court for the District of Maryland, judge (1910–1922); U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland (1898–1910) 1936Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, chief justice (1953–1957), associate justice (1942–1953)1909United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, chief judge (1958–1964), circuit judge (1956–1958); United States Solicitor General (1954–1956)1890United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, circuit judge (1931–1963)1925Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, judge (1921–1936)1918United States District Court for the District of Maryland, judge (1955–1986)1954Maryland Court of Appeals, judge (1996–2007); Maryland Court of Special Appeals, chief judge (1990–1996), judge (1977–1990)
Federal government
Alumni Class Reason for notability1886Surgeon General of the United States (1920–1936)1921Leonhart (1939), p. 282.U.S. State Department, alleged Soviet spy1954Former deputy director of the CIA; former vice-chairman of Bankers Trust; former chairman of Alex. Brown & Sons; member of National Lacrosse Hall of Fame1957Inspector general of the Department of State (2005–present)1947U.S. ambassador, Romania1908Leonhart (1939), p. 276.U.S. solicitor general (1947–1952)
State and local officials
Alumni Class Reason for notability1937Attorney general of Maryland (1966–1974); city solicitor, Baltimore (1961–1963)1958Mayor of Annapolis (1985–1989)193143rd mayor of Baltimore (1962–1963)Hyman A. Pressman1933City Comptroller of Baltimore (1963–1991)1967Stasburger (1967) p. 111Police commissioner, Baltimore (2005–2007)
Shading appears where relevant Democratic Party Republican Party
Journalism
Alumni Class Reason for notability1969Columnist, Baltimore Sun1963Former columnist, Baltimore Sun; columnist, The Examiner, author1945Sports editor, Baltimore Evening Sun
Military