Gonella, Ashton, 1929-2014

Ashton Gonella was born Ashton Glassell on January 13, 1929 to parents Wesley and Ashton Glassell in Shreveport, Louisiana.

After graduating from Byrd High School, Glassell attended Hockaday Junior College and Centenary College. Gonella became interested in politics, and served as President of the Shreveport League of Women Voters. After reading an article about Lyndon B. Johnson and his work in the U.S. Senate, Gonella inquired through a mutual friend about openings on the Johnson staff.

In 1957, Ashton Gonella moved to Washington D.C. to serve as Secretary to, then, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. Gonella continued to work for Johnson until 1962 when she accepted an appointment from John F. Kennedy to serve as Director of Women’s Activities for the Office of Emergency Planning.

After John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Gonella contacted the Johnsons to offer her assistance. Following her temporary assistance to the Johnsons, handling mail and telephone calls, she left her position with the Office of Emergency Planning to serve as Personal Secretary to Lady Bird Johnson. Gonella held this position until the end of the Johnson presidency in 1969.

After starting a public relations firm, Gonella began working as Executive Secretary for Senator Lloyd Bentsen from Texas. Gonella then served as a staff member for both the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare and the Senate Sergeant at Arms. Finally, in 1985, Gonella began working in real estate in the Washington, D.C. area.

Ashton Gonella died July 12, 2014.