Spain, Jayne Baker, 1927-2003

Jayne Baker Spain (March 28, 1927 – March 1, 2003) was an American businesswoman. She was appointed to vice-chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission by President Richard Nixon in 1971. Spain was born on March 28, 1927, in San Francisco, California to parents Lawrence I. Baker and Marguerite (Buchanan) Baker.[1] While attending the University of California, Berkeley, she was asked to assist in the children's rehabilitation center, which sparked her interest in assisting those with disabilities.[2] She later attended the University of Cincinnati and Edgecliff College before marrying John Spain on July 14, 1951.[1] After inheriting the engineering company Alvey-Ferguson in 1951, Spain made a point to hire one disabled worker in every 10 individuals she chose.[ As a result of her activism for disability rights, she was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to vice-chairwoman of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped on September 12, 1966.[4]