Ruth Ann Minner
| Ruth Ann Minner | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 72nd Governor of Delaware | |
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In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 |
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| Lieutenant | John Carney |
| Preceded by | Tom Carper |
| Succeeded by | Jack Markell |
| 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Delaware | |
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In office January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Governor | Tom Carper |
| Preceded by | Dale E. Wolf |
| Succeeded by | John Carney |
| Member of the Delaware Senate | |
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In office January 11, 1983 - January 12, 1993 |
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| Member of the Delaware House of Representatives | |
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In office January 14, 1975 - January 11, 1983 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ruth Ann Coverdale January 17, 1935 Slaughter Neck, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Frank Ingram Roger Minner |
| Alma mater | Delaware Technical Community College |
| Religion | Methodism |
Ruth Ann Minner (born January 17, 1935) is an American politician and businesswoman from Milford, in Kent County, Delaware. She is a member of the Democratic Party who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, and the 72nd (and first female) Governor of Delaware from 2001 to 2009.
Minner was born Ruth Ann Coverdale at Slaughter Neck in Cedar Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, near Milford. While growing up, she left high school at age 16 to help support her family. Subsequently she married Frank Ingram with whom she had three children: Frank Jr., Wayne and Gary. When she was 32 her husband died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving her a single mother with three children. She earned her GED in 1968 and later attended Delaware Technical and Community College, while working two jobs to support the family. In 1969 she married Roger Minner and together they operated a family towing business, the Roger Minner Wrecker Service. Roger Minner died of cancer in 1991.
Ruth Ann Minner began her political career as a clerk in the Delaware House of Representatives and as a receptionist in the office of Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt. In 1974 she was elected to the State House as a member of the "Watergate Class," a group of newly elected legislators from both parties, who came into office on a "good government" mission and a strong sense of their ability to make significant improvements. Minner rose to become Delaware's most powerful female politician, but she did it in a very conventional way, representing a rural, small town constituency, and building relationships and expertise by working in the legislative process over many years. She served four terms in the State House, from the 1975/1976 session through the 1981/82 session.
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