Omar J. Jones

Omar J. Jones (August 7, 1913 – October 20, 1976) was and educator and served as the first County Executive of Howard County, Maryland.

Early life and education
Omar J. Jones graduated from University of Maryland with a Master's degree in Education. He left his first teaching job in Charles County, Maryland in 1946 to become a teacher in Howard County as principal of the all white Lisbon and Ellicott City High School. Jones was the first Principal of Howard High School which opened in 1952 to centralize schools. One of his students, James N. Robey also became a County Executive. In 1967, Jones applied for suerintendent of Howard County Schools. Jones was Vice-president of the Lisbon fire department, and a member of the Howard County School Board. Jones lived in the historic Hagen house in Ellicott City while the new town of Columbia arose. The stone house built in 1845 is listed in the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Jones Died at the age of 63 in 1976. A plaza in front of the County offices he commissioned is named in his honor.

Charter Form of Government
Jones was one of the creators of the Howard County charter form of Government. The charter form of government allowed Howard County to have more control over the ability to create and manage debt for projects such as it's Agricultural preservation program. It also shifted more decision making authority to the county from the State legislature in Annapolis.

County Executive
Jones became the first Howard County Executive in 1970. prior to Jones tenure, the county was managed by three Commissioners with one acting as President. Early in his term, Jones appointed Fred Weaver to the County Personnel board, marking the first African American to a county board. Jones served as executive during the rapid growth of the new planned community Columbia, Maryland. While in office, Jones also served on the Planning Board, Social Services Board, Recreation and Parks Board, and The Maryland State regional planning council representing Howard County. Later in 1974, Jones commissioned the George Howard building, consolidating county offices, and keeping the County seat in Ellicott City rather than a proposed central location in the new town of Columbia. The rapid growth caused a rapid shift in the demand for services with 28% of the population bringing in 36% of the tax income from the newer, more expensive housing stock. Concilman Edward L. Cochran queried Jones and past executive Charles E. Miller for appointing Robert Wieder as county solicitor. Wieder was also working as a CPA for Miller from his Mt. Ida office building while reviewing a 118 acre land development on Centennial Lane between his wife Florence Wieder and Miller. After his term, he faced some media scrutiny for expense reporting and no-bid plumbing contracts to a plumbing code board member.

Election history
Jack L. Larrimore served as police chief from 1963-1969. Larrimore ran for County Executive in 1969, against Jones who did not renew his commission after the election.