Martha Layne Collins, Kentucky's First Female Governor, Passes Away
Martha Layne Collins, the only woman to serve as governor of Kentucky, has died at the age of 88 at her home in Lexington.
According to her husband, Bill Collins, she died in her sleep at Richmond Place, a retirement community in Lexington. He said,
She lived a remarkable life.
Early Life and Career
Collins was born in Shelby County and served as governor from 1983 to 1987, a time when Kentucky governors were limited to one term.
Achievements and Legacy
She was the third woman in U.S. history to be elected governor of a state in her own right and played a crucial role in revolutionizing the state's economy by landing Toyota Motor Manufacturing.
- In 1984, Collins was considered for U.S. vice president as a running mate with Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale.
- That same year, she chaired the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.
Author's summary: Martha Layne Collins, a trailblazing politician, passed away at 88.