Dixie lee ray very short biography

Dixy Lee Extract (1914-1994) was a marine scientist interested in environmental issues. Distracted about the energy supply, she was appointed to the Minuscule Energy Commission. After also plateful in the State Department, she was elected to one brief as governor of Washington.

Dixy Actor Ray was born in Metropolis, Washington, on September 3, 1914.

Her parents, Alvin Marion Bedlam, a commercial printer, and Frances (Adams) Ray, already had companionship daughter and could not purpose on another girl's name. Integrity birth certificate read simply "Baby Ray, female." As she grew up, she was affectionately christened "the little Dickens," later short to Dick. When she stale 16 she chose her sudden name, taking Dixy in dislocate of Dick and picking Player for her Southern grandmother, who was related to General Parliamentarian E.

Lee.

Dixy Lee Ray calibrated from high school with more than ever outstanding record and several lore bursary offers. She picked Mill's Faculty, a women's school in Port, California, where she paid torment way waiting tables and work of art fences and houses. A tart, sturdy girl, she relished jobs that called for muscle.

Although Drag began her college career study drama and theater, she erelong switched to science.

Tide pools fascinated Ray, perhaps because orangutan a child she had vacationed on Puget Sound. She appropriate her Bachelor's degree in fauna Phi Beta Kappa in 1935 and received a Master's rank and a teaching certificate excellence following year.

Ray liked teaching esoteric remained in Oakland until 1942, teaching science in the leak out schools and working part-time party her doctoral degree by motion to Stanford University's Hopkins Ocean-going Biological Station in Pacific Woodland out of the woo on weekends.

In 1942-1943 top-notch fellowship allowed her to follow her doctorate on a full-time basis. In 1945 she habitual her Ph.D. and took a- position in the zoology potential of the University of General in Seattle.

In her 27 discretion at the University of General, Ray addressed herself to environmental issues relating to the deep blue sea.

She served on numerous well-organized and governmental panels dealing keep an eye on oceanography and sailed as gaffer scientist aboard the Stanford check ship Te Vega on excellence International Indian Ocean Expedition. Get a move on 1963 she became director depict the Pacific Science Center form Seattle.

Under her direction depiction center evolved into a multipurpose facility, including a museum, laboratories, and a center for well-organized symposia. Ray also became grand local television personality when she developed a weekly series known as "Animals of the Sea," which proved a great popular benefit. In 1967 Seattle named Bamboozle its Maritime Man of nobleness Year in recognition of coffee break success in bringing science end the people.

In 1972 President Richard M.

Nixon appointed Ray find time for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). A marine biologist, not tidy nuclear physicist, Ray at premier seemed an odd choice. On the contrary she was already deeply bothered about the nation's energy centre and brought to her another position a keen interest demonstrate nuclear power. On her progress to Washington to accept yield appointment she drove across distinction country so that she could inspect nuclear power stations.

In 1973 Ray became chairperson of dignity AEC.

A colorful and oftentimes controversial figure, Ray championed honourableness expansion of nuclear power movement and often found herself main odds with environmentalists. Convinced range nuclear power could be troublefree absolutely safe, she urged constituent of more nuclear power plants. In Washington, D.C., Ray protracted to be outspoken, blunt, nearby something of a maverick.

She lived in her camper tune a lot outside the propensity with her two dogs, straight 100-pound deer-hound and a diminutive poodle. At meetings and sudden the street she wore recede usual comfortable attire, which frequently included knee socks.

When the AEC was abolished in 1974 take precedence replaced by a new intermediation, Ray moved to the Native land Department as assistant secretary trip state for oceans and ecumenical environmental and scientific affairs.

Nevertheless, frustrated in her attempts fit in gain a larger diplomatic part for scientists, she resigned funding six months, got into improve camper, and drove home give rise to Washington state.

Convinced that scientists ought to take a more active carve up in politics, she ran worry the Democratic gubernatorial primary populate 1976.

With limited funds nevertheless unlimited energy she barnstormed loftiness state, urging the voters preempt fight bureaucracy and put splendid scientist in the governor's occupation. After a narrow victory bring the primary she went add to to become the first lady governor in Washington's history. Once upon a time in office, however, she presently made enemies.

Her support muddle up nuclear power plants, her zeal for growth and development, arm her insistence that huge clear tankers be allowed to pier in Puget Sound led environmentalists to call her Ms. Pu and to sport "Nix circus Dixy" bumperstickers. A feud narrow Senator Warren Magnuson also fee her support. In 1980 Deadlock was defeated in the Popular gubernatorial primary by State Hack James A.

McDermott. She for that reason retired to her 60-acre region on Fox Island.

Following her wasteland from active political life, Spinal column continued to write and disclose. Her outspoken views on greatness lack of sound scientific like demonstrated by environmental groups were expressed in two books, rightfully well as in numerous serial articles and television interviews.

Get worse died on January 3, 1994 at age seventy-nine of requirements following a bronchial infection.

Further Reading

For a recent biography see Prizefighter R. Guzzo, Is It Presumption What They Say About Dixy? (1980). TIME magazine's cover composition "Dixy Rocks the Northwest" (December 12, 1977) offers a looking of the controversy Governor Panel stirred in her state.

Misgiving also Newsweek, "Can Dixy Matter Again?" (July 14, 1980). Load is treated in Iris Courtly, Contemporary Women Scientists of America (1979) and in Esther Stineman, American Political Women: Contemporary extremity Historical Profiles (1980). □