Thelma Stovall
American politician
Died when: 74 years 309 days (898 months)Star Sign: Aries
Thelma Loyace Stovall (nee Hawkins;April 1, 1919 – February 4, 1994) was a pioneering American politician in the state of Kentucky.In 1949 she won election as state representative for Louisville, and served three consecutive terms.
Over the next two decades, Stovall was elected Kentucky State Treasurer twice and Secretary of State of Kentucky three times.
She capped her career as the 47th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1975–1979) in the administration of her fellow Democrat, Governor Julian Carroll.
She was the first woman to hold the office.Stovall was known for her assertive style.Several times in her career, when she found herself in the position of acting governor, she was unafraid of exercising that power – she issued gubernatorial pardons, called the Kentucky General Assembly into session to consider bills, and most famously issued an executive injunction against the Assembly's attempt to repeal Kentucky's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Throughout her career, Stovall was an ardent advocate of labor and women's rights.
