Founded by the Lions Club of Frederick and the friends and family of Chief Main to honor his 90th birthday for Frederick County students majoring in criminal justice.
Charles V. Main was born on January 22, 1910 in Middletown and continued making his mark in Frederick County until his death in March 2005. Main, a graduate of Frederick High School, went on to become a Maryland State Trooper in 1932. He continued serving until 1952 when, at the request of a friend and then Mayor Don Rice Sr., he joined the Frederick City Police Department (FCPD). He remained with the FCPD for 24 years, serving as Chief of Police. Chief Main was known for his constant willingness to help others, and in 1986 he joined fellow visionaries to create The Community Foundation of Frederick County, which holds funds to fulfill the charitable intentions of Frederick County residents. Several funds at the Community Foundation bear his name or were influenced by him and continue to reach out to assist others, as Chief Main would have liked. The Chief Charles V. Main Scholarship Fund, a surprise honor for his 90th birthday, supports local students pursuing careers in criminal justice. The fund is sustained through donations and the sale proceeds from Chief Main’s book of memoirs entitled Frederick’s Main Street. The Frederick Police Department Endowment Fund was launched in Chief Main’s honor upon his retirement to commemorate his years of service. The FCPD started the fund to provide financial assistance to families of police officers. Chief Main and his wife Louise created The Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Main Fund in 1992 to address the community’s most pressing needs. During his lifetime Chief Main volunteered his time, talents and treasures with 19 nonprofit organizations including the Jeanne Bussard Center where he served as President of the Board of Directors in 1969. The Charles V. Main/President’s Fund for the former Jeanne Bussard Center was created for the Center’s operational support but also to recognize Chief Main’s charitable work. Chief Main’s generosity continues even after his lifetime through provisions he made in his estate plans to create The Charles V. and Louise D. Main Endowment Fund. This unrestricted fund supports Frederick County nonprofits; however, special consideration is given to projects for Calvary United Methodist Church.