Former U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper received the Josiah Marvel Cup award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce at its annual dinner on Monday night.
A former state treasurer, congressman, governor, and U.S. Senator, Carper served in public office for nearly a half-century. He decided not to seek another term, paving the way for the election of Lisa Blunt Rochester, the state's first Black U.S. Senator.
The West Virginia native, after serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War and remaining in the Naval Reserve, moved to Delaware and obtaining an MBA from the University of Delaware. He left the Senate as its only remaining Vietnam War veteran.
He was elected as state treasurer in 1976 where he led the development of Delaware's first cash management system and helped in a rescue package for Chrysler Corp. and its Newark plant.
He then went on to serve five terms as Delaware’s lone congressman. In 1993, Carper became Delaware’s 71st governor.
As Congressman and governor he was credited with convincing executives to keep the state's two auto plants open. Both closed in 2009 but had been on future closing lists for decades.
Carper also championed the recruitment of AstraZeneca’s U.S. headquarters, signed legislation that elevated Delaware State College to Delaware State University and spearheaded development of Wilmington's riverfront and walking and biking trails statewide.
As governor, more jobs were created in his administration than any eight-year period in Delaware history.
Carper returned to the nation’s capital in 2001 to serve four terms in the U.S. Senate. He helped co-author the Affordable Care Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, Water Resources and Development Acts, and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
During his time in Congress, Carper is described by many as a pragmatic, bipartisan leader and was sometimes known as a Blue Dog" moderate Democrat, sometimes at odds with progressives in the party.
He was also known regular visits in all three of the state's counties in a van that piled up hundreds of thousands of miles in its existence.
Established in 1951, the Marvel Cup honors a Delawarean who has made an outstanding contribution to the state, community or society.
The State Chamber’s highest honor is named in memory of the Honorable Josiah Marvel, who reorganized and served as the first president of the Delaware State Chamber in 1913. Marvel was also instrumental in establishing Delaware's corporate law and incorporation system.
The recipient of the Marvel Cup is kept secret until the night of the dinner.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.