Sammie Abbott helped design the classic Radical Guide to the University of Maryland and freely shared his professional knowledge of graphic design to UM activists.

Sammie was a former union organizer and anti-freeway activist who also served as Mayor of Takoma Park. His gruff voice was often heard at public hearings where armed with facts and figures, he would verbally demolish the latest unncessary highway extensions through the DC area.

Original Comments

• Sammie was an old leftie with a long history. I remember him standing up at transit hearings and giving officialdom a tonguelashing while the redbaiters would start yelling about some Congressional Committee that Sammie refused to testify at. He never wavered.I was told that Sammie used to be a CIO organizer with the Steelworkers Organizing Committee in the 1930’s. I could easily imagine him telling the steel bosses to go smelt steel in Hell. I always admired Sammie’s forthright courage.— Anonymous
• He was also Alex Ajay’s uncle. Alex was active at U. of MD in the mid 70s. Alex’s picture is also in the photos section of this site.— Anonymous