caption governor predecessor successor birth_name birth_place party office birth_date term_start image article_title term_end name alma_mater
phillips in 2007 lee s. dreyfus douglas j. la follette douglas j. la follette velvalea rodgers milwaukee , wisconsin democratic party secretary of state of wisconsin 18 february 1924 january 3 , 1979 vel phillips at march on milwaukee - 2007.jpg vel phillips
 january 3 , 1983 vel phillips howard university university of wisconsin -- madison law school
vel phillips

velvalea rodgers `` vel '' phillips -lrb- born february 18 , 1924 -rrb- is a wisconsin attorney who served as a local official and judge in milwaukee , wisconsin and as secretary of state of wisconsin , often as the first woman and/or african-american in her position .
