lieutenant death_date signature_alt birth_date signature term_end alma_mater death_place imagesize profession order term_start image name predecessor birth_place president party successor article_title birth_name
john cherberg 2 january 1994 cursive signature in ink 3 september 1914 dixy lee ray signature.png january 14 , 1981 june 20 , 1975 1974 mills -rrb- stanford university -lrb- ph.d. -rrb- college -lrb- b.s. -rrb- mills college -lrb- m.s. fox island , washington , us 235px marine biologist 17th oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs chair of the governor atomic energy commission of washington assistant secretary of state for january 12 , 1977 january 19 , 1975 1973 dixy lee ray.jpg dixy lee ray daniel j. evans office established james r. schlesinger tacoma , washington , us gerald ford richard nixon democratic john spellman frederick irving office abolished dixy lee ray
 marguerite ray
dixy lee ray

dixy lee ray -lrb- september 3 , 1914 -- january 2 , 1994 -rrb- was a scientist 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 known for her leadership of the state during the devastating eruption of mt. st. helens , for her strident support of atomic energy , and for her personal eccentricities .
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 -lrb- aec -rrb- by president richard m. 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 .
to the surprise of many , 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 after losing her bid for re-election in 1980 .
