2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-00501
SJ0003
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0003
Commemorating Nellie Tayloe Ross.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Nethercott, Hutchings, Jones and
Schuler and Representative(s) Angelos,
Bratten, Campbell, E, Connolly, Lawley, Ottman
and Thayer
A JOINT RESOLUTION
for
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th anniversary of
2 Nellie Tayloe Ross becoming the first woman to hold the office
3 of governor in the United States.
4
5 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was born on November 29, 1876, in
6 St. Joseph, Missouri; and
7
8 WHEREAS, after being raised in the great plains and midwest,
9 Nellie Tayloe Ross came to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and married
10 William B. Ross, a lawyer and aspiring politician; and
11
12 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was described as gracious, funny,
13 smart and strongly loyal to her friends and family; and
14 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0050
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1 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first lady of Wyoming
2 in 1922 after her husband, William B. Ross, was elected
3 governor; and
4
5 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was relied upon by her husband,
6 who consulted her daily on political life; and
7
8 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross was asked to run for governor by
9 the state party chairman after William B. Ross died a month
10 before the election; and
11
12 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross, who had political ambitions, was
13 advised not to run for the office of governor by friends and
14 family but nonetheless accepted her party's nomination on
15 October 14, 1924; and
16
17 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross won the gubernatorial election on
18 November 4, 1924, by a margin of approximately ten percent
19 (10%); and
20
21 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross assumed office as the first woman
22 governor in the United States on January 5, 1925, tackling 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0050
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1 hardships throughout the state, including drought, farm and
2 ranch failures and bank failures; and
3
4 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross served as governor for one (1)
5 term, but her remarkable political career did not end once
6 she left the governor's office; and
7
8 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross once again made history in May
9 1933 when she became the first woman to hold the position of
10 director of the United States mint; and
11
12 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross served as director of the United
13 States mint through the Great Depression, World War II and
14 the Korean War and is the longest-serving United States mint
15 director in history; and
16
17 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross retired from the United States
18 mint in April 1953 and lived a prosperous life until her death
19 at age one hundred one (101) on December 20, 1977; and
20
21 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross remains the only woman to have
22 served as governor of Wyoming and one (1) of seven (7) women
23 to serve as director of the United States mint; and 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0050
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1
2 WHEREAS, Wyoming is the Equality State and has been home to
3 many historical achievements by women; and
4
5 WHEREAS, Nellie Tayloe Ross continues to be an inspiration to
6 many people across Wyoming and the United Staes; and
7
8 WHEREAS, January 5, 2025, marked the one-hundredth (100th)
9 anniversary of Nellie Tayloe Ross' historic inauguration.
10
11
12
13
14That the State of Wyoming recognizes and
15 commemorates the life and achievements of Nellie Tayloe Ross
16 on this momentous anniversary.
17 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0050
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1That the Secretary of State of Wyoming
2 transmit copies of this resolution to the president of the
3 United States, to the president of the senate and speaker of
4 the house of representatives of the United States congress
5 and to the Wyoming congressional delegation.
6
7 (END)