Former Maryland Del. Emmett Burns Dies At 81
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Former Maryland state delegate Emmett Burns has died at age 81, WJZ has learned.
Burns served four terms in the House representing District 10 in Baltimore County from 1995 to 2015.
He was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1940, and is a U.S. Air Force veteran. A family member told WJZ he passed away "surrounded by the love of the Burns family."
The Democrat notably authored and passed legislation to rename Maryland's major airport from Friendship International to the Baltimore Washington International -Thurgood Marshall Airport. He also sponsored legislation for the state to study the legacy and systemic impact of slavery on African American socioeconomic stability.
In his tenure as Delegate, Burns was a member of a slew of committees and was the Deputy Majority Whip from 2003 to 2007. Burns was also a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and the Maryland Veterans Caucus.
Burns made headlines as a staunch opponent of gay marriage, leading the charge against the eventually successful bill to legalize marriage in the state in 2012.
Burns was also the founder and pastor emeritus of the Rising Sun First Baptist Church in Woodlawn.
