Roger Moyer

Moyer was born on August 16, 1934, to Clara Lewis, who was from the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis, and Vernon Moyer, who was from Iowa.^[4] His mother believed in racial equality, which she instilled in her son, according to Moyer's relatives and friends.^[1] Roger Moyer earned the nickname, "Pipsqueak," by playing baseball with older children. He would later shorten his nickname simply to "Pip."^[1] During the 1940s, Moyer began a lifelong friendship with Joseph "Zastrow" Simms, who would become a leading Annapolis community activist.^[5]

He became a standout basketball player at Annapolis High School.^[3] Moyer then enrolled at the University of Baltimore, where he played for the college's Baltimore Bees basketball team.^[3] Moyer enlisted in the U.S. Army after studying at the University of Baltimore. He was a member of the Fort Dix basketball team which won the 1958 Army Championship.^[3] In 1993, Moyer became the first basketball player to be inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements at Annapolis H.S.^[3][6]

Moyer was first elected to the Annapolis City Council in 1961.^[7] He was elected Mayor of Annapolis in 1965 and won re-election to a second term in 1969.^[7][3]

Moyer and Zastrow Simms were the subject of a 2008 documentary, Pip & Zastrow: An American Friendship, which was co-directed and co-produced by Victoria Bruce.^[1] Zastrow Simms died on April 15, 2013, at the age of 78.^[8]

Roger Moyer remained active in Annapolis city government after leaving the mayor's office in 1973, following two terms.^[3] He served as the Deputy Director of the Annapolis Housing Authority for many years.^[3] He remained an adviser to the city's elected officials during his retirement.^[3]

Outside politics Moyer was a longtime basketball coach at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis.^[1] The city's Pip Moyer Recreation Center is named in his honor.^[1]

Roger Moyer died in his sleep at his home at the age of 80 on January 10, 2015, following a lengthy illness with Parkinson's disease.^[1][3] He was survived by his ex-wife, former Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, and their five children - Guy William, John Rodger, Michael Vernon, Steven Lewis and Loni Ellen.^[4] Mayor Mike Pantelides ordered flags to be lowered to half staff in his honor.^[3]