Nellie Tayloe Ross - by Robert Tayloe Ross:

Nellie was the first woman in America to be elected governor of a state of our union, in a contested race, and that was the State of Wyoming (in 1924).  Not surprisingly, she was an early pioneer for women's rights in the United States.  In 1924, only four years after passage of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote, she was elected the first woman governor in the United States. She was thrust into politics when her husband, William Bradford Ross, the governor of Wyoming, died in office in 1924.

This left Nellie, the mother of three sons, in debt and with no means to support herself and her family. At the time, Nellie, who was intelligent, tactful, and dignified, had limited exposure to politics, solely from her membership in the Cheyenne Women's club, where political topics were discussed, and from informally advising her husband on political issues. Her only other exposure to government was from her employment as a kindergarten teacher as a young woman.

Despite her inexperience, she was elected governor and was inaugurated on January 5, 1925. During her tenure as governor, she pursued a progressive agenda, which included proposed legislation to increase safety for coal miners, to provide more funding for public education, and to protect women employed in industrial jobs.

Following her term as the Chief Executive in Wyoming, Governor Ross became a well-known national speaker and speechwriter, encouraging women to run for office and to influence public policy through their votes. This drew her into national politics. She campaigned for Democrat Al Smith in his 1928 presidential run, and she implored women to turn out to cast their votes for Smith. At the Democratic Convention, she wrote and delivered a speech seconding Smith's nomination. Notably, at the convention, Governor Ross received 31 votes for vice-president on the first ballot, from ten different states!

After the 1928 Democratic Convention, Governor Ross became the Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the Director of the Committee's Women's Division. In that position, she moved to Washington, D.C., and led the national campaign seeking the women's vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt. After his victory, President Roosevelt named Governor Ross the Director of the U.S Mint, the first female to hold the position. She held that position for twenty years.

As Director, Governor Ross employed a flexible management style, based upon common sense and relationship building. She was a competent and effective executive respected by government leaders and employees alike. She cut costs and increased efficiency as she modernized the Mint, also implementing an incentive program under which employees were rewarded for suggestions to improve efficiency.

While serving as Director of the Mint, Governor Ross continued speaking around the country, promoting the advancement of women. Her story is timeless. She was able to balance her personal and family life with her public life through her strong interpersonal skills and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Governor Ross died in 1977 at the age of 101. Her remarkable life and career have been an example to women for generations.

Sources used in this article are primarily the author's personal knowledge, as well as newspaper articles, historical websites, encyclopedias and other resources.

Ms. Ross overcame her fears, rose to the occasion and became a success.  Her story highlights the strength one has during adversity.