He started each morning with a swim, could recall campaigning with a group called First Voters for Roosevelt, and frequently handed out gold coins printed with the motto "God bless you all, real good."
Maryland Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein had his eccentricities, but his place in state history was sealed long before his death beside his swimming pool Friday night, a victim of a heart attack at the age of 85.
Goldstein, son of Prussian immigrants, was first elected to public office in 1938 when he won a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. Almost sixty years later, Goldstein reported to work every day to the treasury building bearing his own name.
Known simply as "Louie" and often called "Mr. Maryland," Goldstein served as the state comptroller continuously since January 1959 and was the longest-serving public official in Maryland history.
In an unprecedented arrangement, Goldstein was scheduled to lie in state Monday under the rotunda of the Maryland State House for public viewing. The funeral will take place Tuesday morning in Prince Frederick, Goldstein's birthplace.
He died just more than a week after declaring his candidacy for an eleventh term.
A Democrat, Goldstein is credited with securing or maintaining Maryland's triple-A rating with all three major rating agencies. Moody's Investors Service has rated the state's general obligation bonds triple-A since 1940, Standard & Poor's since 1961, and Fitch IBCA Inc. since 1990. Only eight other states have triple-As from the three agencies.
Goldstein was one of the first state officials to go to New York City to convince investors and analysts of Maryland's creditworthiness. In response to such consultations in the late 1950's, Goldstein began distributing fiscal reports to taxpayers and later helped pioneer disclosure statements for bond issuances.
He also pushed for Maryland to become the first state to have its finances audited by an outside company. And under Goldstein's watch, Maryland moved from cash accrual accounting to using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Goldstein was also known for his conservative financial projections, preferring to underestimate revenues than to be overly optimistic.
Around the state, officials mourned the loss.
"He did his job in a superb manner," said Treasurer Richard Dixon. "Governors have come and gone, treasurers have come and gone, but he stayed."
Dixon credited Goldstein's management as crucial in maintaining Maryland's bond rating through the recession of the early 1990's. "He has been one who has worked very hard to maintain the triple-A ratings," Dixon said. "He deserves lots of credit."
Dixon also praised Goldstein for integrating computers into the state's financial operations relatively early. Now taxpayers can file state returns electronically.
"Louis Goldstein exemplified the best in public service," said Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke. "He made us all proud to be Marylanders."
Goldstein was born March 14, 1913. He received a bachelor of science degree from Maryland's Washington College in 1935 and graduated from the University of Maryland Law School in 1938, the year before his first term as a state delegate.
He fought in World War II in the Pacific as a private in the Marines. By the time he was discharged in 1946, he had reached the rank of first lieutenant.
Once Goldstein was elected comptroller, he was virtually unbeatable in reelection campaigns. In 1978, he won 73% of the vote, and in 1982 took 82%. He ran unopposed in 1974 and 1986.
Gov. Parris Glendening named Michael D. Barnes as Goldstein's successor Monday. Barnes, an international corporate laywer, head of a Washington think tank, and former U.S. congressman, will serve the remainder of Goldstein's term, which ends in January 1999.
In a statement, Glendening said he expects Barnes to enter the now- crowded race for the permanent comptroller spot.
