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25LSO-0050
ORIGINAL Senate
ENGROSSED
JOINT RESOLUTION
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SJ0003
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1,
SENATE
SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session
A JOINT RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th anniversary of Nellie Tayloe Ross becoming the first woman to hold the office of governor in the United States.
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was born on November 29, 1876, in St. Joseph, Missouri; and
WHEREAS, after being raised in the great plains and midwest, Nellie Tayloe Ross came to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and married William B. Ross, a lawyer and aspiring politician; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was described as gracious, funny, smart and strongly loyal to her friends and family; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first lady of Wyoming in 1922 after her husband, William B. Ross, was elected governor; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was relied upon by her husband, who consulted her daily on political life; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was asked to run for governor by the state party chairman after Governor William B. Ross died on October 2, 1924; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross, who had political ambitions, was advised not to run for the office of governor by friends and family but nonetheless accepted her party's nomination on October 14, 1924; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross won the special election for governor on November 4, 1924, with fifty-five and twelve-hundredths percent (55.12%) of the votes; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross assumed office as the first woman governor in the United States on January 5, 1925, tackling hardships throughout the state, including drought, farm and ranch failures and bank failures; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross served as governor for one (1) term, but her remarkable political career did not end once she left the governor's office; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross once again made history in May 1933 when she became the first woman to hold the position of director of the United States mint; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross served as director of the United States mint through the Great Depression, World War II and the Korean War and is the longest-serving United States mint director in history; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross retired from the United States mint in April 1953 and lived a prosperous life until her death at age one hundred one (101) on December 20, 1977; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross remains the only woman to have served as governor of Wyoming and one (1) of seven (7) women to serve as director of the United States mint; and
WHEREAS, Wyoming is the Equality State and has been home to many historical achievements by women; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross continues to be an inspiration to many people across Wyoming and the United Staes; and
WHEREAS, January 5, 2025, marked the one-hundredth (100th) anniversary of Nellie Tayloe Ross' historic inauguration.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:
Section 1.
That the State of Wyoming recognizes and commemorates the life and achievements of Nellie Tayloe Ross on this momentous anniversary.
Section 2.
That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives of the United States congress and to the Wyoming congressional delegation.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.
Chief Clerk
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