Josie Ward Heath was born in San Jose, California in 1937, however, Heath was raised in Forest Grove, Oregon by her mother for the early part of her life. In third grade, her mother, a waitress in the bus depot cafe, married her father, who was a clerk at a local hardware store. Heath was exposed to social injustice at the young age of nine when she worked in the fields with migrant workers picking beans and strawberries to buy clothes for herself.(1) Heath continued working throughout her education. In high school she worked with her father from midnight to 8 a.m. at a cannery.
In 1955, Heath began her college career after receiving a scholarship from Eastern Oregon State College and became the first member of her family to attend college. Heath was a varsity basketball player, homecoming princess, and was involved in campus politics during her time at Eastern Oregon State College. In her junior year, Heath ran for vice president of student body with Steve Johnson running as president because it was not common for women to run for president.(2) Throughout her college career, Heath worked at a dry cleaner, in the dormitory cafeteria, as a secretary, and a child care provider. In 1959, Heath graduated magna cum laude with a degree in education, and although she was originally a finalist for a Woodrow Wilson Scholarship, Heath was not recommended by her political science professor because, as he told Heath, he had to recommend the male applicant because she would get married and have a family. Heath examined her other options and received a Resident Home Fellowship to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison.(3)
At the University of Wisconsin, Heath lived in the dormitory and counseled freshman women as a part of her Fellowship agreement, which is how she met her husband, S. Rollins (Rollie) Heath, Jr., who was the Home Fellow for the freshman males. Heath graduated with a Master of Science in 1960. In 1962, Rollie joined the military and the two were stationed in Texas. Here, Heath became a counselor at a local high school. Heath was invited to a Student Council Association during her time at the El Paso high school, which she utilized as an opportunity to organize for civil rights. At the end of the invitation, it was specified that “due to lack of space, please do not bring any coloreds.” Heath organized a petition to the school board to decline the invitation on the grounds of civil rights and it was decided that they would be able to make a better statement by attending the conference and showing influence there. During her time as a counselor in Texas, Heath witnessed more civil rights violations that had a lasting impact on her life.(4)
In 1964, the Heaths, with their recently born son Stratton, moved to West Germany where Rollie worked as a legal liaison for the US Army and Heath taught English as a second language. While in Germany, the Heath’s also had their second child, Kristin. Unfortunately, Heath broke her leg in six places while skiing and after two years and nine months of trying to work around the injury, the Heaths took a medical evacuation and returned to the United States in 1968 so Heath could receive medical attention for her leg.(5)
In 1970, Rollie ended his active duty with the Army and the Heath family moved to Colorado where he obtained a job at Armco Steel. In Boulder, Heath had her third child, Joel, and balanced her roles as mother and educator while she began her political career by distributing pamphlets and becoming involved in community endeavors, such as Books With Options.(6) During this time period, Heath helped to organize and lead many community organizations. In 1974, she became one of the founders and the President of the Boulder County Women’s Resource Center and in 1975, she was the Vice President of the Boulder County United Way. She also served on the Board of Directors for organizations such as Eco-Cycle, the Boulder County YWCA, the American Association of University Women, the Colorado Commission on Women, the Aton Foundation, and the Community Resource Center.(7)
Heath continued her outreach work when she was appointed director of the Women’s Resource Center at Red Rocks Campus of Community College of Denver from 1975 to 1979. Part of her role was to encourage women her own age to return to college part-time.(8) While at Red Rocks, Heath was also the Project Director for Non-Traditional Careers for Women in 1976. From 1976 to 1979, Heath’s community service also included her work as Presidential appointee for the U.S. Circuit Court Judicial Selection Committee. In 1979, Heath was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as Denver regional director for ACTION, which was a federal agency for volunteer service. Heath administered a $7 million budget developed programs for volunteers, transportation, economic development, and housing.(9)
Throughout the 1970’s, Heath was very active in politics. Some of her work included Boulder County Precinct Committeeperson (1971-1976), Outlying Precinct Coordinator (1973-1976), Chair for the Boulder County Democratic Party Get Out the Vote (1974). From 1972 to 1978, Heath worked on campaigns for various Democratic candidate, including, Ruth Correll when she ran for Senate District 23 (1972), the Richard Lamm for Governor campaign (1974 & 1978), Gary Hart for the U.S. Senate (1974), and for Tim Wirth (1974, 1976, & 1978). Heath focused on her own political aspirations when she ran for the Colorado Senate District 23 in 1976. In 1982 and again in 1986, Heath was elected Boulder County Commissioner and in 1990, Heath ran for the U.S. Senate seat for Colorado.(10)
In the 1980’s, Heath continued her community activism and was a chair for Urban Issues, Colorado Counties, Incorporated, the Economic Futures Panel, the Boulder County Consortium of Cities, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. Throughout her lifetime, Heath has received recognition for commitment to the community and social change through various awards and recognitions, including Outstanding Young Women of America (1967), Susan B. Anthony Award from the National Organization of Women (1979), Big Sisters of Colorado Salute to Women Award (1979), Johns-Manville Community Ambassador (1981), PLAN Boulder Annual Award (1984), Citizen of Achievement from the Boulder County League of Women Voters (1984), and Boulder County Zonta Woman of the Year (1985).(11) Heath has continued her work throughout the 1990’s and joined the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County in 1995, which she is currently the President. The goal of the foundation is to improve the quality of life in Boulder County and to encourage an “ethic of philanthropy.”(12) In recent years, Heath has also worked for community organizations and on committees, including the Knight Foundation Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Urgent Action Fund as a volunteer. Heath has also stayed active in politics. In 2002, she helped Rollie run for Colorado State Governor and in 2004, Heath and her husband were delegates at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Throughout her life, Heath has worked on a personal, societal and political level to create change for women, children, and community in general.
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(1) [“Underdog Heath in fight against history, money,” The Sunday Denver Post, October 28, 1990, Josie Heath Collection, 24-8], Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.
(2) Ibid.
(3) [“Worth the Risk” by Martha Hardesty, Josie Heath Collection, 1-1], Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.
(4) Ibid.
(5) Ibid.
(6) [“Underdog Heath in fight against history, money,” The Sunday Denver Post, October 28, 1990, Josie Heath Collection, 24-8], Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.
(7) [Resume, Josie Heath Collection, 1-3], Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.
(8) [“Underdog Heath in fight against history, money,” The Sunday Denver Post, October 28, 1990, Josie Heath Collection, 24-8], Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries
(9) [Resume, Josie Heath Collection, 1-3], Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.
(10) Ibid.
(11) Ibid.
(12) The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, 2001-2004,
From the guide to the Josie Heath Collection, 1960-1990, 1976-1990, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Archives Dept.)
