43 - WASHINGTON, Dixy Lee Ray
WASHINGTON!!! My home and native land. This is where I have spent almost all of my life. Years 1-18, 22-24, and 29-present ... home. I tell people I will travel and explore, but forever now Washington will be my home. I feel accepted here. I feel like I am like minded and respectful in the way my home should be. It is filled with beauty, exploration, diversity, and political debate. It is filled with my family and friends that have all helped shaped me over my life, and also not shunned me when I changed my views or became more independent.
I love you Washington! Every one of you.
Dixy Lee is an interesting person to portray here. She is vocal, brassy, and blunt. She is intelligent and passionate. She is herself above and beyond everything. That is a Washingtonian to me.
Washington was the 35th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment. There were many attempts for Washington to permit women voting before the national amendment, but they failed, mostly in issue with the liquor votes. Read this link for a quick info on how women fought to gain the vote, and succeeded in 1910 before the final amendment in 1920. Washington Women Voting History
Ms. Ray was born Marguerite Ray, and legally changed her name to Dixy Lee. A scientist by heart, she took her message to the people as appointed government secretaries, University of Washington professor, and, most notably, the first female governor of Washington State.
Known to be “ridiculously smart”, she had an attitude that preceded her. Her blunt personality both drew people to her and alienated them away. She was appointed to be the first Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in 1975, though resigned when her position was not received by Henry Kissinger.
Her most passionate activism centered on nuclear power in the early 1970’s. She was the chair of the Atomic Energy Commission, having her move from WA State to D.C., much to her dismay.
Returning to WA, she sat as Governor for one term. She is known for tightening of the state spending, balancing of the budget, and beginning the first full funding for education. She saved the Pacific Science Center from closure by transitioning it from an exhibit museum to an interactive science experience, the way it thrives today. Though a Democrat, her conservative views of energy and environment were frowned upon by the liberal residents. Her personality did not win them over, leaving her with a hard battle for re-election. But her love of science never wavered.
Why this woman?
On the recommendation of my father, I researched Dixy Lee because I did see the interesting things she pushed during her career. Many of the things she addressed are rooted in my young life in Southeastern WA including atomic power (proud of the cloud!!) and Mt. St. Helens, which erupted in 1980, her final year of governor and I was 2-1/2.
Her drive for atomic power is a testament to the hard work and research in Richland. For my friends, having a parent working at The Area was not odd. Being with families that have strong science backgrounds was how things went. Everyone talked about science and accepted engineering as a foundation of our town. I know the fight for nuclear power has been rich on both sides. Her advocacy is an interesting one to track on science being brought directly into politics.
Reading about her as a person, I consider what more she could have done if not implicated for her blunt nature. A common obstacle that women contend with is not being the demeanor people believe they need to be. Where men are driven, women are pushy; when women are more approachable, they are considered less competent. Would her personality have gotten her further? Could she have been like Governor Gregoire with a three term tenure? Or made bigger change? I see the power of being yourself and not compromising to public approval, but I see many women, and for sure men, that could address the impact they have on people, especially as their voice, to make real, long lasting change.
I love you Washington! Every one of you.
Dixy Lee is an interesting person to portray here. She is vocal, brassy, and blunt. She is intelligent and passionate. She is herself above and beyond everything. That is a Washingtonian to me.
Washington was the 35th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment. There were many attempts for Washington to permit women voting before the national amendment, but they failed, mostly in issue with the liquor votes. Read this link for a quick info on how women fought to gain the vote, and succeeded in 1910 before the final amendment in 1920. Washington Women Voting History
Ms. Ray was born Marguerite Ray, and legally changed her name to Dixy Lee. A scientist by heart, she took her message to the people as appointed government secretaries, University of Washington professor, and, most notably, the first female governor of Washington State.
Known to be “ridiculously smart”, she had an attitude that preceded her. Her blunt personality both drew people to her and alienated them away. She was appointed to be the first Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in 1975, though resigned when her position was not received by Henry Kissinger.
Her most passionate activism centered on nuclear power in the early 1970’s. She was the chair of the Atomic Energy Commission, having her move from WA State to D.C., much to her dismay.
Returning to WA, she sat as Governor for one term. She is known for tightening of the state spending, balancing of the budget, and beginning the first full funding for education. She saved the Pacific Science Center from closure by transitioning it from an exhibit museum to an interactive science experience, the way it thrives today. Though a Democrat, her conservative views of energy and environment were frowned upon by the liberal residents. Her personality did not win them over, leaving her with a hard battle for re-election. But her love of science never wavered.
Why this woman?
On the recommendation of my father, I researched Dixy Lee because I did see the interesting things she pushed during her career. Many of the things she addressed are rooted in my young life in Southeastern WA including atomic power (proud of the cloud!!) and Mt. St. Helens, which erupted in 1980, her final year of governor and I was 2-1/2.
Her drive for atomic power is a testament to the hard work and research in Richland. For my friends, having a parent working at The Area was not odd. Being with families that have strong science backgrounds was how things went. Everyone talked about science and accepted engineering as a foundation of our town. I know the fight for nuclear power has been rich on both sides. Her advocacy is an interesting one to track on science being brought directly into politics.
Reading about her as a person, I consider what more she could have done if not implicated for her blunt nature. A common obstacle that women contend with is not being the demeanor people believe they need to be. Where men are driven, women are pushy; when women are more approachable, they are considered less competent. Would her personality have gotten her further? Could she have been like Governor Gregoire with a three term tenure? Or made bigger change? I see the power of being yourself and not compromising to public approval, but I see many women, and for sure men, that could address the impact they have on people, especially as their voice, to make real, long lasting change.
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