Thelma L. Stovall

Thelma L. Stovall entered political service in 1949 when she was elected to the Kentucky state legislature. For the next 34 years, she served Kentucky in a variety of elected and appointed positions, including secretary of state, state treasurer, labor commissioner, and as the first woman elected lieutenant governor in Kentucky. As lieutenant governor, she was elevated to acting governor several times and took advantage of the position. In 1978 she championed the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was not well received by the legislature. In 1979 she was more successful in securing passage of a bill for property tax reform.

Kentucky · United States