Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch Laid To Rest
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — Maryland paid final respects Tuesday to the state's longest-serving Speaker of the House.
After two days of lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda, House Speaker Michael Busch's funeral procession departed the statehouse to arrive at St. John Neuman Church where a sanctuary full of friends, colleagues and constituents joined the family in honoring his life.
"Throughout his career, Mike Busch built an incredible reputation for being a fearless advocate and true champion of the people he represented," Gov. Larry Hogan said.
Michael E. Busch was first elected to the General Assembly in 1986 as a delegate serving Anne Arundel County before he was elected Speaker of the House when Bob Erlich took office as governor.
"His appeal really wasn't politics, it was as a coach," said Ehrlich. "Everybody liked him. He was a good guy. And when you're a coach politician it's a very formidable formula and Mike played it very well,"
Maryland congressman and former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Steny Hoyer also knew him well.
"He was a calming figure," said Hoyer. "A figure who gave confidence to people that somebody was in charge that was going to be fair, going to have a vision, and was going to make sure the House of Delegates was a productive body," Hoyer said.
Senate President Mike Miller worked in partnership with Busch.
"He was a great leader, great role model, this is agent tribute to a great American," Miller said.
The Michael E. Busch Memorial Scholarship has been established in his memory.
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