Difference between revisions of "Dixy Lee Ray"
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| − | '''Marguerite Lee Ray,''' known as '''Dixy Lee Ray''' (September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994), was an [[United States|American]] [[scientist]] who served as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[governor]] of her native [[Washington]] State from 1977 to 1981. Variously described as idiosyncratic, and "ridiculously smart," she was the state's first female governor. She was in office during the 1980 eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]]. She was the last chairman of the [[Atomic | + | '''Marguerite Lee Ray,''' known as '''Dixy Lee Ray''' (September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994), was an [[United States|American]] [[scientist]] who served as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[governor]] of her native [[Washington]] State from 1977 to 1981. Variously described as idiosyncratic, and "ridiculously smart," she was the state's first female governor. She was in office during the 1980 eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]]. She was the last chairman of the [[Atomic Emergy Commission]] and a lifelong supporter of nuclear energy. |
| − | + | T==Background== | |
| + | he second of five daughters of Alvis Marion Ray (1893-1947) and the former Frances Adams (1895-1945), she was born in Tacoma in Pierce County. Her sisters were Marion Francis Ray Reid (1913-2001) (her gubernatorial hostess), Jean Louise Ray (1920-1998), Juliana Ray Strong (1925-2013), and Alvista Ray Steele (1926-2000). All are interred at Fox Island Cemetery in Pierce County. At the age of twelve, Ray became the youngest female to climb the summit of scenic [[Mount Rainier]] south of Seattle.<ref name=findagrave>Dixy Lee Ray (1914-1994) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed August 6, 2021.</ref> | ||
Miss Ray graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Mills College , a private female liberal arts institution, in Oakland, [[California]]. Thereafter she earned a [[Ph.D.]] in [[biology]] from the private [[Stanford University]] in Palo Alto, California. From 1945 to 1972, she was an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor at the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]]. She was the lead scientist aboard the schooner, ''SS Te Vega,'' in a trip to the [[Indian Ocean]]. Under her guidance from 1963 to 1972, the nearly bankrupt Pacific Science Center was made into an interactive learning facility and rescued from the brink of bankruptcy.<ref name=findagrave/> | Miss Ray graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Mills College , a private female liberal arts institution, in Oakland, [[California]]. Thereafter she earned a [[Ph.D.]] in [[biology]] from the private [[Stanford University]] in Palo Alto, California. From 1945 to 1972, she was an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor at the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]]. She was the lead scientist aboard the schooner, ''SS Te Vega,'' in a trip to the [[Indian Ocean]]. Under her guidance from 1963 to 1972, the nearly bankrupt Pacific Science Center was made into an interactive learning facility and rescued from the brink of bankruptcy.<ref name=findagrave/> | ||
| + | ==Political career== | ||
In 1973, [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]] appointed Ray as the chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]]. Under her leadership, research and development was separated from safety programs. She then served for six months under President [[Gerald Ford]] as the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. She resigned because of a lack of staff personnel and the failure of [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Henry Kissinger]] to invite her to participate in policy decisions.<ref name=findagrave/> | In 1973, [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]] appointed Ray as the chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]]. Under her leadership, research and development was separated from safety programs. She then served for six months under President [[Gerald Ford]] as the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. She resigned because of a lack of staff personnel and the failure of [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Henry Kissinger]] to invite her to participate in policy decisions.<ref name=findagrave/> | ||
| − | Originally an [[Independent voter|Independent]] and a quite [[conservative]] person who had served under two [[ | + | Originally an [[Independent voter|Independent]] and a quite [[conservative]] person who had served under two [[Republican Party|Republican]] presidents, Ray ran for governor as a Democrat. She defeated the [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Spellman]], 53.4 to 40.5 percent, who four years later became her successor after she lost her bid for re-nomination to the more [[liberal]] James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott (born 1936), later a [[U.S. Representative]] from 1989 to 2017 for Washington's 7th congressional district. Known for her no-holds=barred style, Governor Ray approved the docking of supertankers in [[Puget Sound]] and supported unrestrained growth and development. She also coontinued to express her enthusiasm for atomic energy. In 1980, she proclaimed a state of emergency as a result of the volcanic eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]]. She retired after her governorship ended. |
In the early 1970s, Miss Ray hosted a weekly [[television]] program, ''Animals of the Sea," produced and broadcast by the [[PBS]] affiliate in Seattle. IShe received much publicity beyond her campus for hosting the show. In 1990, she published ''Trashing the Planet''; three years later, "Environmental Overkill." She died at her island home in Fox Island, also in Pierce County, from a bronchial infection.<ref name=findagrave/> | In the early 1970s, Miss Ray hosted a weekly [[television]] program, ''Animals of the Sea," produced and broadcast by the [[PBS]] affiliate in Seattle. IShe received much publicity beyond her campus for hosting the show. In 1990, she published ''Trashing the Planet''; three years later, "Environmental Overkill." She died at her island home in Fox Island, also in Pierce County, from a bronchial infection.<ref name=findagrave/> | ||
Revision as of 00:30, August 7, 2021
| Marguerite "Dixy" Lee Ray | |
 | |
17th Governor of Washington State
| |
| In office January 12, 1977 – January 14, 1981 | |
| Lieutenant Governor | John Cherberg |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Daniel Jackson Evans |
Chairman of the [[[Atomic Energy Commission]]
| |
| In office February 6, 1973 – January 18, 1975 | |
| President | Richard M. Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | James R. Schlesinger |
| Succeeded by | AEC abolished |
| Born | September 3, 1914 Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington |
| Died | January 2, 1994 (aged 80) Fox Island, Washington |
| Resting place | Fox Island Cemetery |
| Political party | [Independent voter |
| Spouse(s) | Never married Parents: |
| Alma mater | Stadium High School (Tacoma) Mills College (Oakland, California) |
Marguerite Lee Ray, known as Dixy Lee Ray (September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994), was an American scientist who served as the Democratic governor of her native Washington State from 1977 to 1981. Variously described as idiosyncratic, and "ridiculously smart," she was the state's first female governor. She was in office during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. She was the last chairman of the Atomic Emergy Commission and a lifelong supporter of nuclear energy.
T==Background== he second of five daughters of Alvis Marion Ray (1893-1947) and the former Frances Adams (1895-1945), she was born in Tacoma in Pierce County. Her sisters were Marion Francis Ray Reid (1913-2001) (her gubernatorial hostess), Jean Louise Ray (1920-1998), Juliana Ray Strong (1925-2013), and Alvista Ray Steele (1926-2000). All are interred at Fox Island Cemetery in Pierce County. At the age of twelve, Ray became the youngest female to climb the summit of scenic Mount Rainier south of Seattle.[1]
Miss Ray graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Mills College , a private female liberal arts institution, in Oakland, California. Thereafter she earned a Ph.D. in biology from the private Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. From 1945 to 1972, she was an instructor, assistant professor, and associate professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. She was the lead scientist aboard the schooner, SS Te Vega, in a trip to the Indian Ocean. Under her guidance from 1963 to 1972, the nearly bankrupt Pacific Science Center was made into an interactive learning facility and rescued from the brink of bankruptcy.[1]
Political career
In 1973, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon appointed Ray as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Under her leadership, research and development was separated from safety programs. She then served for six months under President Gerald Ford as the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. She resigned because of a lack of staff personnel and the failure of United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to invite her to participate in policy decisions.[1]
Originally an Independent and a quite conservative person who had served under two Republican presidents, Ray ran for governor as a Democrat. She defeated the Moderate Republican John Spellman, 53.4 to 40.5 percent, who four years later became her successor after she lost her bid for re-nomination to the more liberal James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott (born 1936), later a U.S. Representative from 1989 to 2017 for Washington's 7th congressional district. Known for her no-holds=barred style, Governor Ray approved the docking of supertankers in Puget Sound and supported unrestrained growth and development. She also coontinued to express her enthusiasm for atomic energy. In 1980, she proclaimed a state of emergency as a result of the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens. She retired after her governorship ended.
In the early 1970s, Miss Ray hosted a weekly television program, Animals of the Sea," produced and broadcast by the PBS affiliate in Seattle. IShe received much publicity beyond her campus for hosting the show. In 1990, she published Trashing the Planet; three years later, "Environmental Overkill." She died at her island home in Fox Island, also in Pierce County, from a bronchial infection.[1]