Rich's
Biography
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Sgt.
Richard F. Colburn
U.S.
Army Security Agency 1969-1972 |
Born in Easton and raised in Oxford, Richard F. Colburn is a
lifelong resident of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He graduated from
Easton High School in 1968 and then served as a Sergeant in the
United States Army Security Agency from 1969-1972.
For 25 years Rich
worked in the produce industry for the Atlantic and Pacific Tea
Company, which eventually became known as Super Fresh.
Every day, he
met people who had to stretch their paychecks, social security
checks, and retirement checks to buy groceries. For years, he saw
firsthand the challenges his customers had to overcome.
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In 1978, he challenged the Dorchester incumbent for a seat in the
House of Delegates. He drew statewide attention when he was narrowly
defeated by only 313 votes. Although he was not successful in winning
the election, his campaign revitalized the Republican
Party on
the Eastern Shore, motivating them to further challenge the incumbent
Democrats. In 1982 Rich made his party proud by winning the election
with a whopping 13,157 votes, which secured him a seat in the House of
Delegates.
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 Rich and his wife Alma at a
Shorebirds baseball game |
In 1995, Rich was elected to the
Maryland State Senate. He has served the Eastern Shore in this role
for the past 15 years. As a Maryland State Senator, Rich has served
on several committees. He currently serves on the Senate Education,
Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. One of Rich's most
concentrated efforts has been his service to the Chesapeake Bay and
its Critical Areas Committee. His effort is particularly apparent in
his service as Chairman for the Senate Eastern Shore Delegation
Committee. |
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Rich has been a member of several task forces, including the
Governor's Wellmobile Program Advisory Board, The Poultry Issues
Action Team, The Mid-Shore Council, and The Tri-County Council for the
Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. He is currently the Town Manager for
Federalsburg, Maryland. Through his work in Federalsburg and his role
as Senator, Rich is active in his town, his district, and his state
every day. He is also a member of the Zion United Methodist Church,
The Federalsburg VFW Post, The Dorchester American Legion Post #91,
and the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1272 in Cambridge.
Rich
with Johanna |
Rich is married
to Alma and has a daughter, Johanna. Though he stays busy with his
work, when Rich does has free time, he likes to catch up on his
reading. As Alma puts it, "Rich is an avid reader!" |
Committee
Assignments & Leadership Positions:
Member of
Senate since January 11, 1995.
Member, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2003-
Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee, 2003-04;
Education Subcommittee, 2003-04;
Environment Subcommittee, 2003-;
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee, 2003-;
Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review,
1996-;
Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area,
2003-Member, Joint Committee on Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas, 1995-2003;
Judicial Proceedings Committee, 1995-2003;
Executive Nominations Committee, 1999-2003;
Special Committee on Substance Abuse, 2001-03;
Senate Special Commission on Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance,
2004;
Agricultural Stewardship Commission, 2005-06.
Senate Chair, Eastern Shore Delegation, 1999-.Member,
Rural Maryland Council, Board Member, 2004-;
Background
& Civic Organizations
Born in
Easton, Maryland, February 9, 1950.
Attended Easton High School;
Chesapeake College, A.A., 1982.
Served in U.S. Army Security Agency, sergeant, 1969-72
(top secret clearance); good conduct medal.
Federalsburg Town Manager.
Dorchester County Republican State Central Committee, 1979-82.
Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 1988.
Board of Directors, Maryland Rural Water Association, 1992- (past
president and vice-president).
President, Board of Directors, People for Better Housing, 1993-.
Member, American Legion; Zion United Methodist Church; Elks.
Social Science Award, Chesapeake College, 1980;
Social Science Award, Eastern Community College, 1981.
Married; one daughter.
Caucuses & Prior Service
MD
Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Maryland Rural Caucus
Taxpayers Protection Caucus
Maryland Veterans Caucus
Chair, Committee to Promote Employment of the Handicapped, Dorchester
County, 1981.
Member, House of Delegates, 1983-91.
Member, Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee,
1983-86;
Environmental Matters Committee, 1987-91.
Member, Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, 1984-90;
Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission, 1994-;
Commission to Review Landlord-Tenant Laws, 1998;
Shore Erosion Task Force,
1999-2000;
Governor's Task Force on Eastern Shore Economic Development,
1999-2001;
Study Panel on Funding Needs of Trauma Centers, 2001-03;
Mid-Shore Regional Council, 2001-;
Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, 2001-;
Task Force to Study the Economic Development of the Maryland Seafood and
Aquaculture Industries, 2002-03
(executive committee; seafood industry work group);
Poultry Issues Action Team, 2003; Governor's Wellmobile Program Advisory
Board, 2003-06;
Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted
Living Facilities, 2005-.
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