U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for January 8

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 8: FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR

Profile America -- Saturday, January 8th.  On this date in 1975, Ella Grasso was sworn in as governor of Connecticut -- marking the first time that a woman became governor of a state who was not either the wife or widow of a former governor.  Grasso left a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to run for the post.  Earlier, she had served in several elected positions in Connecticut, including secretary of state and floor leader of the state House of Representatives.  Grasso was reelected for a second term as governor but resigned because of ill health.  She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.  Recently, across the U.S., there were 73 women serving in state elected executive offices, as well as holding almost one-quarter of seats in state legislatures.  Profile America is in its 14th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  440 International Calendar of Events

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Statistical Abstract, t.402

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau