Philip Merrill 1934-2006

1934: Born Philip Merrill Levine in Baltimore on April 28. Raised in Norwalk, Conn.

1955: Graduated from Cornell University; later graduated from Harvard University's business school

1961-1968: Worked for the State Department

1968: Bought the Capital-Gazette Press Inc. for $2.5 million. Papers include: the Capital of Annapolis, Maryland Gazette, Bowie Blade-News, Crofton News-Crier and West County News

1977: Baltimore magazine added to Capital-Gazette portfolio (it was later sold)

1979: Bought the Washingtonian magazine for $3.6 million; added to the holdings of Capital Gazette

1981-1983: Served in Department of Defense as counselor of defense

1987: Built printing plant and new offices for Capital-Gazette Communications

1988: Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the secretary of defense, the highest civilian honor given by the department

1990-1992: Assistant Secretary General for NATO in Brussels

2000: Donated $7.5 million to Chesapeake Bay Foundation; the foundation's headquarters building is now named after him

2001: Donated $10 million to University of Maryland College of Journalism; the college is now named after him

2002: Chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States

2003: Donated $4 million to Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, creating the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies

Sources: The Washington Post, Philip Merrill College of Journalism