Dixy Lee Ray
Dixy Lee Ray (September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994) was an American scientist and politician. She was the 17th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington. She was the state's first female governor and was in office during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.[1][2] She was defeated in the Democratic primary in 1980 by Jim McDermott, who in turn lost the gubernatorial election to John Spellman.
Dixy Lee Ray | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 17th Governor of Washington | |
| In office January 12, 1977 – January 14, 1981 | |
| Lieutenant | John Cherberg |
| Preceded by | Daniel Evans |
| Succeeded by | John Spellman |
| Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs | |
| In office January 19, 1975 – June 20, 1975 | |
| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Irving |
| Chair of the Atomic Energy Commission | |
| In office February 6, 1973 – January 18, 1975 | |
| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | James Schlesinger |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marguerite Ray September 3, 1914 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | January 2, 1994 (aged 79) Fox Island, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Mills College (BS, MS) Stanford University (PhD) |
Ray was born Marguerite Ray in Tacoma, Washington, to Frances Adams Ray and Alvis Marion Ray, the second in a family of five girls. She joined the Girl Scouts and, at the age of 12, became the youngest girl, up to that time, to summit Mount Rainier.[1][2]
In 1930, at age 16, she legally changed her name to "Dixy Lee".[3] She chose "Lee" because of a family connection to Robert E. Lee.[3]
In 1973, Ray was appointed chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) by President Richard Nixon. Under her leadership, research and development were separated from safety programs. She was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs by President Gerald Ford in 1975, but resigned six months later, complaining about lack of input into department decision making.
Dixy Lee Ray died on January 2, 1994, at her home in Fox Island, Washington from pneumonia, aged 79.[4] After her death, it was reported that employees of the Pierce County medical examiner's office had kept autopsy photos of Ray as souvenirs.[5]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "From Mt. Rainier to the Governorship of Washington, Dixy Lee Ray Was a Climber". aauw.org. American Association of University Women. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Dixy Lee Ray: Tough-minded Woman Who Calls Herself 'Chairman' of the AEC". People. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Becker, Paula (2004). "Ray, Dixy Lee (1914–1994)". historylink.org. HistoryInk. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ "Former Gov. Dixy Lee Ray Dead at 79". Associated Press.
- ↑ "Ray's Family: Autopsy Photos 'Denigrating' Polaroids Of Corpses Discovered In Desk Of Ex-County Employee". Spokesman Review. 4 June 1996. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
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