Boonsboro Historical Society Speaker: Tom Riford (BNS)

Program Type:

Cultural Heritage & Genealogy

Age Group:

Teens & YA (13-18), Adults

Event Details

Join us for a free talk.

Boonsboro Historical Society presents speaker, Tom Riford, who will speak about the Thomas Kennedy Center, dedicated to celebrating Hagerstown-Washington County’s state legislator Thomas Kennedy’s tireless efforts of advancing religious liberty and inclusiveness in 19th Century Maryland; and teaching how his legacy applies today, regardless of differences that might exist among us in race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, color, orientation, and gender.

More About Thomas Kennedy

The Maryland Constitution in 1818 maintained religious test requirements that effectively prohibited Jews from being elected to state office. Kennedy, a Scottish Presbyterian immigrant, was elected to the House of Delegates in 1817 from Washington County. Kennedy believed religious discrimination was wrong. He began a bitter, eight-year struggle culminating in 1826 with the constitutional changes that freed Jewish citizens of Maryland from political discrimination. Kennedy also served in the Maryland Senate and established the ‘Hagerstown Mail’ newspaper. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

About Thomas B. Riford

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan named Tom Riford as Commerce Assistant Secretary in March 2019. Mr. Riford was responsible for managing the Division of Tourism, Film, and the Arts and the Department of Marketing and Communications. He also was the Executive Director of the Maryland Marketing Partnership, a public-private partnership which helps market the State of Maryland. Assistant Secretary Riford was transitioned out, as per the new Administration, on Sep. 1st, 2023.

Prior to state government service, Mr. Riford was most recently the executive director of the nonprofit Thomas Kennedy Center, and continues to serve on its board of directors. Riford served for more than a decade as the president and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he was successful in significantly driving up visitor spending and visitation.