William Gullett, who served as Prince George’s County Executive from 1971-74 immediately after the county adopted Charter home rule, died last week at the age of 92.
Mr. Gullett served for one term as County Executive, following his tenure as Mayor of College Park, and continued his career in public service after losing his bid for re-election. He was also a Delegate at the 1967-68 Maryland Constitutional Convention.
Current County Executive Rusher Baker III released comments reflecting on Mr. Gullett’s service:
Although he will be remembered as our first County Executive, Mr. Gullett’s life was distinguished in many ways. During World War II, he was a B17 Army Air Corp pilot who flew dangerous missions over Europe from his base in England. After the war, Mr. Gullett returned to civilian life as a chemical engineer, with 21 patents in the field of metallurgy. He then turned his skills to politics, becoming a three term Mayor of the City of College Park before winning the first election ever for Prince George’s County Executive. As the first County Executive, Mr. Gullett succeeded in making the new form of charter government work for the citizens of this County while overcoming the political challenges that he, as a Republican County Executive, had with a Democratic controlled County Council during an incredibly tenuous time period both in Prince George’s County and national politics.
For his fortitude to lead this County as the first County Executive during difficult times, and for his gracious assistance as an advisor to Prince George’s County Executives that followed him, Prince George’s County is eternally grateful for the service of William W. Gullett.
