2008 Woodie Awards
UB Class President of 1951, Edgar Plitt, Passes Away
Contributed by Jean Elizabeth Wallace-Plitt
Edgar E. Plitt, 80, University of Baltimore alumnus, passed away in December due to a brief illness. Platt was born in Baltimore in 1927 and, during his childhood, his family survived the Great Depression.
He began working for the B&O Railroad immediately after high school, but joined the U.S. Army to serve in World War II after one year. He was among the first troops to occupy Japan, and he worked under General Douglas MacArthur, in his Tokyo Headquarters, during Japan's reconstruction.
After the war, then in his early 20s, Plitt returned to the United States. He enrolled at UB, which, at the time, had intercollegiate athletic teams; Plitt earned letters in both soccer and baseball. He also was active in student government and clubs, including Sigma Alpha Omicron, the national fraternity for student activities achievement, and he was elected president of his 1951 graduating class.
After graduating from UB, Plitt resumed work at the B&O Railroad. He soon became an executive in the Labor Relations Department, where he ultimately handled arbitrations and contract negotiations for B&O, Chessie System and CSX railroads with six railroad unions. He worked for B&O for 35 years until he retired in 1985.
In 1955, Plitt married Jean Elizabeth Wallace, with whom he enjoyed 52 years of marriage. Plitt also worked as a local basketball referee and played in the Maryland Unlimited Baseball League, where he pitched a no-hitter in the 1953 State Tournament.
Among other awards, Plitt received the Baltimore Sunpapers Medal for Achievement in Amateur Athletics for his achievements in baseball. Plitt actively contributed to Baltimore-area athletics, civic organizations and to UB. He was appointed to the first Board of Governors of the UB Alumni Association and stayed in contact with them throughout his life.
He was also active in the RABO (Retired Administrators of the B&O RR); CHEERS (Chessie Employees Enjoying Retirement Socially); American Legion, Post 181; and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7472.
Plitt is survived by his wife and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife still actively contributes to the UB Alumni Association and said that he deeply valued his connection to UB throughout his entire life.
Paul Chandler, 2L and senior staff writer for The UB Post, contributed to this article.
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