Martz, Judy, 1943-2017

Judith Helen Martz (née Morstein; July 28, 1943 – October 30, 2017) was an American politician, businesswoman, and Olympian speed skater who served as the 22nd Governor of Montana, the first and to date only woman to have held the office. She served from January 1, 2001 to January 3, 2005. She previously served as the 31st Lieutenant Governor of Montana from 1997 to 2001 under the governorship of Marc Racicot. She was the last Republican to serve as Governor of Montana until Greg Gianforte was elected in 2020 and took office on January 4, 2021.

Born July 28, 1943, in Big Timber, Montana and raised in Butte, she graduated from Butte High School in 1961 and attended Eastern Montana College. Martz was a speed skater at the 1964 Olympics (1500 metres), 1962 Miss Rodeo Montana, and owner and operator, with her husband, Harry, of a garbage disposal service in her hometown of Butte, Montana. She was one of the first two Montana women to appear in the Olympics.

In 1996, Martz became the first female Lieutenant Governor of Montana, elected with Marc Racicot. She served as Lieutenant Governor from 1997 to 2001. In the Montana gubernatorial election of 2000, Martz won the Republican primary over conservative activist and University of Montana law professor Rob Natelson 57 percent to 43 percent. She went on to defeat her Democratic opponent, State Auditor Mark O'Keefe, in the general election by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent. Martz announced that she would not run for re-election as governor in 2004. Martz finished her time in office campaigning for President Bush in Ohio, Arizona, and other swing states, and sparring with incoming Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer over transition of state government.

Martz died of pasncreatic cancer in Butte at the age of 74.