McKinley Bowie, a lifelong Pumphrey resident, said he always has felt compelled to help improve his community as a way to preserve its sense of place and traditions.

Mr. Bowie worked with the late Philip Marner, the longtime president of the Taxpayers Improvement Association of Patapsco Park, Julius Little and other community leaders to secure grants to renovate the old Pumphrey Elementary School into the Lloyd Keaser Community Center, Annette Bates, another Pumphrey activist, wrote in an e-mail.

As Mr. Marner's successor, Mr. Bowie said he learned from him how to approach county and state officials to get things done for the...