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Former Cumberland Mayor Passes Away

May 17th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Former Cumberland Mayor Frank Nethken has passed away at the age of 91. Nethken, who was born in Keyser, graduated from Fort Hill in 1949, then served in the U.S. Navy. He was a machinist inspector for the Chessie Railroad and retired from that position. He worked several years as a real estate broker. His lifelong interest in politics culminated with his election as Cumberland’s mayor for one term- 1978 thru 1982- defeating incumbent Perry Smith. Nethken was defeated in his bid for re-election by George Wyckoff. In the years that followed, Nethken unsuccessfully campaigned for public office on several occasions on both the municipal and federal level – and at one point announced his intentions to run for president. While Nethken had his share of critics, in interviews over the years, he always looked back fondness and with pride of his time in the mayor’s office…

Ironically, most believe it was Mayor Perry Smith’s unpopular decision to close Baltimore Street to traffic- creating a pedestrian mall- that propelled Nethken to victory. A groundbreaking to re-open the mall is now tentatively scheduled for this fall. Nethken requested that there be no funeral services.

August 7th, 2014 by WCBC Radio

Former Cumberland Mayor Edward C. Athey passed away Tuesday afternoon at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center following a yearlong battle with leukemia. Towards the end of a long career in the financial department of the Kelly Springfield Company, Athey entered politics and served as the city's mayor from 1992 to 2000, before opting not to seek another term. Prior to being elected mayor he also served a term as a council member.  Since leaving office, and in declining health, Athey kept a relatively low profile in the past decade but is remembered by most as a dedicated family man and public servant. Former city council member Harvey May held office with Athey and said that serving the community was a priority of the former mayor since he was a young man….





 


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