Heath, Josie, 1937-

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)

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