Jane Dee Hull

Jane Dee Hull, born on August eighth, nineteen thirty-five, is a distinguished American politician and educator who made history as the twentieth governor of Arizona, serving from nineteen ninety-seven to two thousand three. She took office following the resignation of Fife Symington and was subsequently elected in her own right in nineteen ninety-eight, marking a significant milestone as the first woman formally elected to the governorship in Arizona.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Hull graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in education. After moving to Arizona in nineteen sixty-two with her husband, Terry, she dedicated herself to raising their four children while also teaching English. Her political journey began a decade later, as she became actively involved in Republican women’s groups and volunteered for various political campaigns.

In nineteen seventy-eight, Hull was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, where she held influential positions such as House Majority Whip and Speaker of the House. Her political career continued to flourish when she was elected Secretary of State of Arizona in nineteen ninety-four, becoming the first Republican to hold that office in over sixty years. After her tenure as governor, she was succeeded by Janet Napolitano in two thousand two due to term limits.