A Look Back
By Fred Miller
“History is made; Woman is named commissioner” was the headline across the front page of the February 17, 1972, Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger. The article began, “City Tax Assessor Mrs. Marilyn Moore was sworn in Wednesday as this city’s first woman Commissioner ever at ceremonies prior to the City Commission meeting.
“Mrs. Moore takes the chair vacated last month by Revenue and Finance Commission Robert E. Lewis, who was forced to step down due to a cardiac disorder.”
An editorial in the same newspaper began, “Mrs. Marilyn Moore became the newest member of the current City Commission Wednesday and the first woman every to occupy a seat in the governing body of this resort.” It ended, “Like any other first, there is a certain amount of excitement that comes with Mrs. Moore’s appointment. All eyes will be on her in the weeks and months to come. Then after a while, though Mrs. Moore will never become ‘one of the boys,’ today’s skeptic will grudgingly admit that a women commissioner the job as well as a man, and maybe even do some things better.”
