Women in Public Service

Tireless public servant who served eighteen years in the Utah House of Representatives and on numerous state and national boards as a community volunteer. Widely respected on both sides of the aisle, Bradshaw was known as a moderate and proudly bore that label. Her many awards include the University of

A vivacious and deeply religious woman, Alberta Henry (1920-2005) fervently believed in the notion of community, and became committed to creating a more equitable, culturally diverse society in Utah. Her efforts led to the establishment of the Alberta Henry Education Foundation in 1967. For 12 years, she was president of

Utah legislator and founder of the Utah Arts Council and the State Art Collection. Horne spent her early years as an educator and artist before being elected in 1898 as a member of the Utah House of Representatives –- only the second woman to serve in that body. As a

Carmen Negron was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico where she earned a bachelor’s degree in special education. Her desire to become a social worker and work in a psychiatric hospital led her to BYU Provo to complete her master’s degree in social work. With determination and resilience, and as a

Wife of Chief Ouray and primary representative for the Uncompahgre Utes in helping to negotiate a treaty with the United States government in 1880. The treaty was precipitated by an event a year earlier in which a group of White River Utes killed eleven men and took several women and

Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court. Born in Southern California, Chief Justice Durham attended Duke Law School and practiced law in North Carolina before moving to Utah in 1973, where she taught at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU. Chief Justice Durham became a trial judge in

Deborah Bayle is widely recognized as one of Utah’s most innovative and influential leaders. She currently serves as President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL). Prior to that, she served as CEO for the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Chief Operating

After serving for several years as Utah’s Republican National Committeewoman and heading up the women’s division of the Republican National Committee, Priest was appointed Treasurer of the United States by Dwight D. Eisenhower. She was only the second woman to hold that office. After eight years in national office, Priest

Jaclyn (Jackie) Hunt Herrin, Miss Utah 2001, focused her platform on raising organ donation awareness for Intermountain Donor Services (IDS). Her work with IDS spanned five years. Jackie has been challenged with eye problems for much of her life, which led her to volunteer for the Utah Lions Eye Bank.

Jeanetta Williams’ professional and community service has centered on her passion and absolute dedication in addressing discrimination and human right issues. She has served as president for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for over 20 years; she also serves on the NAACP National Board of

Jeanette Herbert is the wife of Governor Gary Herbert and the devoted mother of six children. Prior to becoming the First Lady of Utah, she ran a commercial child care and preschool, the Kids Connection, for 23 years. In 2003 she was named Businesswoman of the Year by the Provo-Orem

Luz Robles Escamilla is the senator for the Utah State Senate’s 1st District, and is a director for Zions Bank. She holds a master’s in public administration and has received the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Pathfinder Award, the SBA Award, and the Pete Suazo Memorial Award. She has served

Margaret Dayton has been recognized as the longest serving woman in the history of the Utah Legislature, but she does not promote that as her greatest contribution to society. She is first a wife and mother. She reflects on her time working as a registered nurse for several years, and

Margaret Yee was born in China in 1939. She immigrated to the United States in 1962. After arriving in Utah, Margaret married and had four children. Margaret and her husband opened the Jade Cafe’ in downtown Salt Lake City and were successful in the restaurant business for over 50 years.

Rear Admiral in the United States Navy –- the second U.S. woman promoted to that rank –- and director of the Navy Nurse Corps (1975-1979). Admiral Conder is a native of Utah and received a nursing diploma from St. Mark’s Hospital School of Nursing in Salt Lake City and a

As the daughter of Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson, Missy Wilson Larsen became involved in politics as well as social issues at a young age. Missy’s involvement in the Utah community has continued since that early beginning and is far reaching. Her career focus began in public relations, becoming

Mia Love is a U.S. Representative from Utah’s 4th Congressional District serving as the first Haitian American and first black female Republican in Congress. She is also the former mayor of Eagle Mountain, Utah. Photograph by Gage Skidmore.

Utah’s first and only woman governor. Prior to becoming governor, Walker served ten years as Lieutenant Governor of Utah and eight years as a member of the state legislature (including a term as majority whip). Walker is a champion of children’s literacy and was the founder and director of the

Pamela Atkinson is a native of England where she grew up in very humble circumstances and was the first in her family to graduate high school. Through hard work she earned a nursing degree followed by a master’s degree from the University of Washington where she studied sociology and business.

Rebecca (Becky) Lockhart (1968-2015) was the first woman in Utah history to serve as Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives. Recognized for her inclusive, collaborative leadership style she will be remembered as one who valued all voices and the open process of weighing every view-point on an issue. Lockhart

Utah’s first woman member of Congress and one of its first female lawyers. Bosone spent her early career as a high school teacher before winning election to the state legislature in 1932 as a Democrat. Bosone’s chief accomplishment as a state legislator was sponsorship of a minimum wage and hours

Influential suffragist, political activist, and religious and community leader. As a suffragist and activist, Kimball was president of the Utah Woman’s Suffrage Association (1890-94) -– later voted “Honorary President for Life” –- as well as a national delegate and Utah’s honorary vice president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association

The only foreign-born, bilingual Miss America (1985). Born in Asunción, Paraguay, Sharlene Wells Hawkes spent twelve years in South America (including high school) before returning to Utah to attend BYU, where she graduated magna cum laude and won top awards for broadcasting. She was crowned BYU Homecoming Queen, Miss Utah,

Shirlee Silversmith is the Director of the Division of Indian Affairs within the Utah Department of Community and Culture and serves as the liaison between the Governor and Utah’s tribes. Previously, she worked with the Utah State Office of Education as the Indian Education Specialist for nearly 20 years, and

Afton Bradshaw

Alberta Henry

Alice Merrill Horne

Carmen Negron

Chipeta

Christine M. Durham

Deborah Bayle

Ivy Baker Priest

Jaclyn Hunt Herrin

Jeanetta Williams

Jeanette Herbert

Luz Escamilla

Margaret Dayton

Margaret Yee

Maxine Conder

Melissa (Missy) Larsen

Mia Love

Olene Walker

Pamela Atkinson

Rebecca Lockhart

Reva Beck Bosone

Sarah M. Kimball

Sharlene Wells Hawkes

Shirlee Silversmith