October 19, 1958 Michael Stephen Steele, the first African American chairman of the Republican National Convention, was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland and adopted as an infant. Steele earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from John Hopkins University in 1981. After graduating, Steele spent three years preparing for the Catholic priesthood at the Augustinian Friars Seminary at Villanova University. However, he left prior to ordination. In 1991, he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. After joining the Republican Party, Steele became chairman of the Prince George’s County Republican Central Committee and in 1995 was selected Maryland Republican Man of the Year. In 2000, he was elected chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, the first African American to be elected chairman of any state Republican Party. In 2002, Steele was elected Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, a position he held until 2007. In 2009, Steele was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee and in 2010 he published his book, “Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda.”
