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. 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 Fox Island, Washington, U.S. | (aged 79)
Political party | Democratic |
Education | Mills College (BS, MS) Stanford University (PhD) |
Dixy Lee Ray Media
Dixy Lee Ray presents the Pacific Science Center's "Arches of Science" award to Nobel Laureate Glenn Seaborg in 1968. At the time Seaborg was Chair of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, a position Ray would hold several years later.
Ray and her dogs Ghillie and Jacques inspect the Hanford nuclear reservation. With them is Thomas Nemzek, at the time Director of Reactor R&D.
Ray speaking with Robert Sachs, director of the Argonne National Laboratory, circa 1974
Governor Ray at Washington State Employees Credit Union open house in 1977
Dixy Lee Ray signing a bill into law in the rotunda of the Legislative Building in Olympia
While Washington's chief executive, Ray split her time between the Governor's Mansion (pictured) and a trailer on rural Fox Island.
A bridge carrying State Route 504 lies in ruins after being carried by a lahar generated by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.