Olene Walker
| Olene Walker | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 15th Governor of Utah | |
|
In office November 5, 2003 – January 3, 2005 |
|
| Lieutenant | Gayle McKeachnie |
| Preceded by | Mike Leavitt |
| Succeeded by | Jon Huntsman |
| 4th Lieutenant Governor of Utah | |
|
In office January 4, 1993 – November 5, 2003 |
|
| Governor | Mike Leavitt |
| Preceded by | Val Oveson |
| Succeeded by | Gayle McKeachnie |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Olene Smith November 15, 1930 Ogden, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2015 (aged 85) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Myron Walker |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater |
Brigham Young University, Utah Stanford University University of Utah |
| Religion | Mormonism |
Olene Walker (née Smith; November 15, 1930 – November 28, 2015) was an American politician and Utah's 15th Governor. She was sworn into office on November 5, 2003, shortly before her 73rd birthday, as Utah's first female governor. She was a member of the Republican Party.
Walker was born Olene Smith in Ogden, Utah in 1930 to Thomas Ole and Nina (née Hadley) Smith. She graduated from Weber High School. Walker received her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees from Brigham Young University, Stanford University, and the University of Utah respectively.
Walker's political background includes eight years in the state legislature including a term as Majority Whip. She served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Utah for the 10 years prior to becoming governor. She founded the Salt Lake Education Foundation and served as its director. She served as director of the Utah Division of Community Development. She has chaired the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Utah State Housing Coordinating Committee, the Governor's Commission on Child Care, and the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors.
She assumed the office of Governor of the State of Utah after previous governor Mike Leavitt was nominated by President George W. Bush to lead the Environmental Protection Agency in 2003. Walker served as governor until the end of the term on January 3, 2005.
Shortly after becoming governor, she selected former State Representative Gayle McKeachnie to be her lieutenant governor. Olene Walker was the first female governor to be sworn in by a female Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, Christine M. Durham.
...
Wikipedia