Dr. Peter George Callas passed away peacefully on December 30, 2022, at Doey's House.

Born February 15, 1926 in Hagerstown, MD, he was the son of the late George J. Callas and Pella Stratos Callas.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Margaret; by his sister Marie Mars, and brothers William, Gregory and Michael. A son of Greek immigrants, Pete was brought up to value education and to give back to other. He was of the Greek Orthodox faith.

Pete attended area public schools. He was a 1944 graduate of Hagerstown High School, having completed all credits to graduate in December of 1943 with his classmate Howard Smead. They each had 21 credits for the first semester and did not have to attend school for the second semester.

In his spare time, Pete gardened, painted and was an avid golfer. In the mid 1950's he competed in several Maryland Opens and PGA tournaments in Baltimore. Pete loved classical and big band music. He was a chartered member of the Beaver Creek Country Club and in addition he was instrumental inquiring the state charters for the Sports Hall of Fame of Washington County. In addition to painting and gardening, Pete loved classical music and popular music, especially Glenn Miller Band. He and his wife annually attended the Glenn Miller Birth Place Society Reunion in Clarinda, Iowa for 15 years. Pete corresponded with three Presidents at the White House to urge them to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to honor Glenn Miller for his contribution for raising money, US bonds and always helping morale of the Allies during WWII. Generals Arnold and Eisenhower remarked that next to a letter from home, the best morale booster was Glenn Miller music.

After the end of WWII in 1946, Pete enlisted in the United States' Navy, at the age of 17. He served in the Southwest Pacific and Indian Oceans on his ship, Clytie (AS-26).

Following his first service tour in the Navy, Pete graduated from Western Maryland College (WMC) where he lettered in soccer and was vice-president of the class of "49." In 1949, Pete attended the University of Stockholm, in Sweden, where he received a licentiate diploma. He was also employed in the foreign exchange department of the Scandinaviska Banken of Stockholm (1950). While Pete was a student at the University (in Sweden), a friend of his at the US Embassy informed him that an educator was at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm and wanted to meet Pete for breakfast, the gentleman's name was William Brish. What a surprise to find out he was the superintendent of schools for Washington County and Dr. Brish was a member of the "Flying Classroom" of Educators studying the school systems in Europe, including Sweden's. While abroad, Pete had the pleasant opportunity to attend the Noble Prize Ceremony in 1949 at Stockholm's Concert Hall. Pete said it was a real honor to be with so many dignitaries.

In 1950, he returned from college and was recalled to activity duty from the reserves. He started his call to duty in Anacostia, Virginia then was transferred to San Francisco before heading out to Japan and Korea where he served on the DD885. Pete was a combat veteran who served on the Destroyer USS John R Craig (885). He transferred between the ship and the destroyer on a boatswain's chair. He was a radar and optical range finder third class. The Craig, (his ship) belonged to Task Force 95 that blockaded for over 800 days in the East Coast of North Korea. This was the longest blockade in US history.

He was a veteran of the Korean War (1951-1952) and was awarded ten service medals, including the United Nations and Navy combat medals. He also was a life member of the VFW Post 1936, American Legion Post 211, AMVETS Post 10, and a member of the Korean Veterans, Antietam Chapter 312. He was also a charter member of the Joint Veterans Council (JVC) of Washington County. Later in life, Pete, as a legislator, organized the Agent Orange Symposium in Annapolis and established 1-81 as Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway, along with honoring veterans killed in action (KIA) by placing markers at their local residence at their time of death. He was the last chairman of the local Selective Service (Draft) Board in 1975.

Upon his return from his second deployment, Pete completed his Master's Degree at WMC in 1955. Additionally, Pete attended Columbia University Teachers College and George Washington University where he earned his doctorate in School Administration in 1972.

In 1965, he married the love of his life, Margaret and they spent 27 months in Northern Nigeria where Pete was a technician and evaluator of the Modern Aides to Education Project and the county Board of Education. The project was utilized to help improve the usage of television and radio in education. He personally tested over 2,000 students in the evaluation which was later completed by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton (New Jersey). They traveled extensively in United States, Mexico, Iceland, West Africa, Western Europe, and as far North as the Lapland (North Cape) above the Arctic Circle, as far as you could go.

While employed by the Washington County Board of Education he was a teacher, school principal and director of General Administration in the central office, where he was responsible for staff development, public relations, retirement and certification counseling and assisted in recruitment of elementary and secondary teachers. As the principal of Woodland Way School, Pete successfully conducted the racial integration of elementary students, after North Street School closed.

During and after his employment with the WCBOE, he was an adjunct professor of educational administration for Hagerstown Junior College, Western Maryland College, West Virginia University at Shepherd and George Washington University in Washington D.C. Pete also serve on the Big Brothers, Family Service Agency, United Way, Citizens for the Protection of Washington County, MiHi and County Teachers Association (president and legislative chairman). He obtained the charters for the Joint Veterans Council of Washington County. In 1978, the Quad State Legislator of the year was awarded to Pete by the John Marsh Institute of Shenandoah University. He was a member of the Board of Directors at Shenandoah University. As president of the Ag Expo, Pete was successful, after 16 years, in acquiring the land "Site B" for the Agricultural Education Center, with the help of Senator Mikulski and the Governor. With the support of the Education Department of Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College), he established, with Dr. Bailer, the graduate education program in Washington County. In addition, he was a professor for George Washington University in their outreach center in Tidewater, Virginia. He also established the first graduate program at St. Paul's College in Southern Virginia.

Pete was a life member of the National Educators Association and the State and local Retired Educational Personnel Association. He served as legislative chairman for two years on both levels and was Preside of WCRTA for two years (1982-1984). He retired from education in 1975.

Pete served on a multitude of boards. He was a charter member of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Health Planning Council for Western Maryland (also served as acting director for several months) and San Mar Children's Home. He was a charter member of the Regional Education Service Agency in Cumberland. Pete was a very active member of many county, state and national organizations, such as the AARP, Board of Directors of Western Maryland Hospital, MIHI, and the Western Maryland Commission on Aging where he was Tenor Member of their Board of Directors. He was a chartered member of the Joint Veterans Counsel of Washington County. He was also an active member of several military organizations as a life member of VFW 1936, American Legion 211, AMVETS 10 and Korean War Veterans Chapter 312.

In 1987, Pete was successful in being elected to the Washington County Board of Education and served as its president. He was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates where he served as the delegation chairman for eight years. He served three terms. For sixteen years as an elected official, Pete never missed a meeting, work session or a vote. A record he was very proud of. While in the legislature, he was vice-chairman of the Joint Committee of Foreign Relations, served on the state committee to Save the Lighthouses, the Council on Early Childhood Education, the Tri-County Council of Western Maryland and the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee. Additionally, Pete served one year (1992) on the Environmental Committee where he was successful in passing many health and education bills, such as the creation of the Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, one of the first in the nation to study and pass legislation to treat dementia. Pete urged Govern Harry Hughes to establish a committee to study dementia in Maryland. The committee included many genealogists under the leadership of Dr. William Reichel. An increase in funding for respite care and advance directive bills were recommended. In June of 1985, the committee published the ADRD report which nine recommendations. Pete felt very strongly that there is a great need for a national policy for Veterans suffering from dementia. There was over 1,000 copies of the report published thanks to funding from the Elks 378.

Pete also passed the bill that would make English the official language of Maryland. (Governor Schaefer vetoed it). During his tenure in the legislature, Pete obtained funds for Holly's Place, He, also, established the Parent-Child Center in Hagerstown. With the help of the West Virginia's Veterans Association and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, he created the Potomac River Safety Program and guidelines as a result of many deaths on the river in the 1980's.

During his 1992-1993 term, the House committees were reorganized and Pete moved from CAL to the Environmental Matters committee for a year. Governor Schaefer sponsored a bill with his Secretary of Health that was reviewed by Pete's committee. If the bill would have been passed it would have changed the status of the Western Maryland Hospital Center. Fortunately, Pete was able to gain 20 out of 21 votes to kill the bill and keep the hospital open for the patients, staff and citizens of Washington County.

Working with the Mayor and Council of Baltimore, he was successful in finding a location of silo that had access to a railroad, a truck super highway and a seaport for the St. Lawrence Cement Company, thus overturning its closure and keeping it operating here. Locally he raised funds for the creation of the J.D. Zentmyer Memorial (a local high school principal) at Mealy Parkway. A major accomplishment he achieved was saving the five arches Wilson Bridge which was to be demolished. Pete brought the DOT Secretary Bridwell and the County Commissioners together to preserve the structure. During his last year in the legislature, Pete sponsored, unsuccessfully, two bills that passed in the following year, a study for charter schools in Maryland and a prepaid college tuition program. Pete co-sponsored legislation to fund the construction of the gymnasium at Western Maryland College. He retired from the legislation in 1994 but never lost his passion for helping his community and advocating for Veterans. He continued to travel and attend many meetings for all the organizations near and dear to his heart.

Even in retirement in 2002, Pete desired to get recognition for three correspondents that were killed in Iraq at the Tourist Center on I-70W and at Gathland Park. As a result of Pete's leadership, he worked with Tom Brokaw, Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Governor Schaefer to select a visible site at the park to honor the three correspondents that were killed in Iraq.

Pete is survived by his nieces and nephews. Cathy Bushey and Michael Callas, both of Hagerstown. William Callas, Jr. of Ocean City, Maryland. Karen Kennedy of Ellicott City. Anne Marie Downey of Williamsport. Jay Roulette of Elkridge. Paula Roulette of Skaneateles, New York. And several great-nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held at Minnich Funeral Home on Wilson Blvd. His family is planning a Celebration of his Life for in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Washington County AG Center Rural Heritage Museum, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD 21713, or MiHi, Inc., P.O. Box 3511, Hagerstown, MD 21742.