Philip H. Goodman photograph collection

Philip H. Goodman (1914-1976) was a Baltimore Mayor and City Council member and a Maryland State Senator. Born in Poland, Goodman’s family emigrated to Baltimore when he was six years old. He graduated from City College in 1931 and earned a law degree at the University of Baltimore. As a student he was an accomplished athlete, competing in wrestling at the 1930 Olympic games in Palestine. He was also chosen to represent the United States at the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, but Goodman, a Jew, declined to participate.

Goodman’s public service began in the 1940s with appointment as a police court magistrate. He ran for state Senate in 1950, unsuccessfully at first. Instead he was elected to the Baltimore City Council the following year from the Fifth district. He ran again for Senate, and won in 1954 and 1958. He resigned from the Senate in 1959, returning to the Baltimore City Council as its president on a ticket with Mayor Grady and Comptroller Graham. Goodman took over the mayoral post when Grady accepted a Supreme Court seat in 1959. Running for re-election in 1963, Goodman was defeated by McKeldin.

Goodman practiced law in Baltimore, founding the firm Goodman, Meagher and Enoch. He had one son, Gilbert Goodman, from his first marriage. His second wife was Dickee Howard Goodman.