The name "Aegis" originally derived from Greek mythology and is a reference to Zeus' shield, meant to "evoke protection for the interests of Harford residents" as well as the founding paper's Southern sympathies.
[4][5][6][7][8][9] The first building built specifically to house The Aegis was constructed in 1871, at 119 S. Main Street in Bel Air, Maryland.
[10] William Robert Wallis, known to most as "Robbie," started out on a pre-law track at the University of Baltimore, but was convinced to join The Aegis in 1952 by John D. Worthington II as the paper's first sports editor.
Robert was well known in Bel Air and active in numerous state and local organizations, even serving for 11 years as a member of the Maryland Stadium Authority.
He had been at the helm since 1973, surviving two purchases of the paper: one by the Times Mirror in 1986 and another by the Tribune Media Company in 2000.