Ray, Dixy Lee, 1914-1994

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Dixy Lee Ray (September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994) was an American scientist and politician who served as the 17th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington. Variously described as idiosyncratic, and "ridiculously smart," she was the state's first female governor and was in office during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. She was a supporter of atomic energy and a critic of the environmentalist movement.

A graduate of Mills College and Stanford University, where she earned a doctorate in biology, Ray became an associate professor at the University of Washington in 1957. She was chief scientist aboard the schooner SS Te Vega during the International Indian Ocean Expedition. Under her guidance, the nearly bankrupt Pacific Science Center was transformed from a traditional, exhibit-oriented museum to an interactive learning center, and returned to solvency.

In 1973, Ray was appointed chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) by President Richard Nixon. Under her leadership, research and development was separated from safety programs, and Milton Shaw, the head of the powerful reactor development division, was removed. She was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs by President Gerald Ford in 1975, but resigned six months later, complaining about lack of input into department decision making.

Ray ran for election as Governor of Washington as a Democrat in 1976. She won the election despite her blunt, sometimes confrontational, style. As governor, she approved allowing supertankers to dock in Puget Sound, championed support for unrestrained growth and development, and continued to express enthusiasm for atomic energy. On April 3, 1980 she declared a state of emergency as a result of the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens. She retired to her farm on Fox Island, Washington after losing her re-election bid for Democratic nomination later that year. She died at her home on January 2, 1994.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Adlum, Merle Daniel, 1919-1986. Papers, 1963-1983. ND Univ of Washington Libraries (OCLC Worldshare ILL Beta)
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 765 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Stanford University, Department of Biology, Division of Systematic Biology, records, 1949-1970 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Washington State Women's Council. Washington State Women's Council's collection of resource materials, 1971-1978 bulk 1977-1978. Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State
referencedIn C. Montgomery Johnson Papers, 1942-1994, 1964-1980 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Merle Daniel Adlum papers, 1945-1986 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 9/23/80 Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Dixy Lee Ray Papers, 1937-1982 Hoover Institution Archives
creatorOf Ray, Dixy Lee. Dixy Lee Ray papers, 1937-1982. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Coalition Against Oil Pollution (Wash.). Coalition Against Oil Pollution records, 1970-1981 (bulk 1977-1981). ND Univ of Washington Libraries (OCLC Worldshare ILL Beta)
creatorOf Ray, Dixy Lee. Dixy Lee Ray : commercials , 1980. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
creatorOf Washington (State). Governor (1977-1981 : Ray). Governor Dixy Lee Ray papers, 1977-1981. Washington State Archives, Southwest Regional Branch
referencedIn Johnson, C. Montgomery (Charles Montgomery). C. Montgomery Johnson papers, 1942-1994 (bulk 1964-1980). University of Washington. Libraries
referencedIn Stanford University. Dept. of Biology. Division of Systematic Biology. Stanford University, Dept. of Biology Division of Systematic Biology, records, 1949-1970. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Coalition Against Oil Pollution records, 1970-1981, 1977-1981 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
creatorOf Gadler, Steve J. Steve J. Gadler papers, 1956-1985. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 9/25/80 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Sage Colleges Archives. Honorary degree recipient for 1976, Dixy Lee Ray. The Sage Colleges Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adlum, Merle Daniel, 1919-1986 person
associatedWith Adlum, Merle Daniel, 1919-1986. person
associatedWith Coalition Against Oil Pollution (Wash.) corporateBody
associatedWith Coalition Against Oil Pollution (Wash.) corporateBody
associatedWith Gadler, Steve J. person
associatedWith Johnson, C. Montgomery (Charles Montgomery) person
associatedWith Johnson, C. Montgomery (Charles Montgomery) person
associatedWith KCTS (Television station : Seattle, Wash.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Mills College corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford Oceanographic Expedition corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Stanford university corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford University. Dept. of Biology. Division of Systematic Biology. corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford University. Dept. of Biology. Division of Systematic Biology. corporateBody
employeeOf United States Department of State corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
employeeOf University of Washington. corporateBody
leaderOf U.S. Atomic Energy Commission corporateBody
associatedWith U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Washington (State). Governor (1977-1981 : Ray) corporateBody
associatedWith Washington State Women's Council. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Stanford CA US
Oakland CA US
District of Columbia DC US
Fox Island WA US
Seattle WA US
Tacoma WA US
Subject
Advertising, political
Conservatism
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy
Television advertising
Occupation
Biologists
Federal Government Official
Governors
Professors (teacher)
Scientists
Television personalities
Activity

Person

Birth 1914-09-03

Death 1994-01-02

Female

Americans

English

Information

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