Katherine Peden
| Katie Peden | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Katherine Graham January 2, 1926 Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died |
January 8, 2006 (aged 80) Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Katherine Graham Peden (January 2, 1926 – January 8, 2006) was the first woman appointed as the Commissioner of Commerce in Kentucky. Peden was engaged in economic growth policy making at the national and state level during the 1960s and 70s. She was appointed to advisory positions by United States Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter during a time that few women were selected to serve in these positions. Peden was the only woman on the Kerner Commission that investigated the race riots in the United States in the mid 1960s.[1]
In May of 1968, Katherine Peden, won the Democratic primary for Senate over John Y. Brown Sr. of Lexington. She was the first woman in Kentucky to win a statewide senate primary. Peden lost the general that fall to Marlow Cook by a 51-49 margin.[2]
In 1969 she was appointed to the board of directors of MeadWestvaco, then called Westvaco, becoming one of the first women in the nation named to a Fortune 500 company board of directors. [2]
Peden was the national president of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs in 1961.[3]
Early life and education
Katherine Graham was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1926.[4] Her father was a construction supervisor and her mother was a school teacher.[1]
Her career started in 1944 when she went to work at radio station WHOP (AM) where 20 years later she was general manager of the station and owner of WNVL in Nicholasville. She also worked as national sales manager for five CBS stations.
National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club
Peden was the national president of National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club (BPW) in 1961.[3]
Death and legacy
Peden died on January 8, 2006.[3]
References
- 1 2 O'Malley, Mimi (2012-01-24). More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Kentucky Women. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 123–133. ISBN 9780762783786.
- 1 2 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102773157/katherine-graham-peden
- 1 2 3 "Katherine Graham Peden". www.bpw-international.org. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ↑ Disorders, United States National Advisory Commission on Civil (2 September 1968). "Report". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wilson W. Wyatt |
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Kentucky (Class 3) 1968 |
Succeeded by Wendell H. Ford |
