Emma Abbott Ridgway (1903 – 1981) was an American politician who served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives for five terms, from 1945 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1957. She represented Washington's 40th legislative district as a Democrat.[3][1] She served on a number of legislative committees over her five terms, chairing the educational institutions committee in the 1945 term. In party leadership, she was vice chair of the state Democratic Central Committee from 1936 to 1946, state chair of the Democratic Women's Division, and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1944 and 1948.[1]

Emma Ridgway
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 40th district
In office
January 10, 1949 – January 14, 1957
Serving with Violet P. Boede (1949–51)
Grant C. Sisson (1949–53)
James T. Ovenell (1951-57)
Don Eldridge (1953–57)
Preceded bySverre N. Omdahl
Ed M. Schwarz
Grant C. Sisson
Succeeded byDon Eldridge
James T. Ovenell
Ralph L. Rickdall
In office
January 8, 1945 – January 13, 1947
Serving with Violet P. Boede
Fred J. Martin
Preceded byViolet P. Boede
Fred J. Martin
Grant C. Sisson
Succeeded bySverre N. Omdahl
Ed M. Schwarz
Grant C. Sisson
Personal details
Born(1903-07-21)July 21, 1903
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
DiedMay 1, 1981(1981-05-01) (aged 77)
Sedro-Woolley, Washington, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDr. Ralph[1] (Hubert?[2]) Ridgway
EducationWashington State College (now Washington State University) (B.A.)
Columbia University (M.A.)
OccupationMovie theater owner/manager

Outside the legislature, she was affiliated with Alpha Chi Omega, the American Legion Auxiliary, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Lambda Theta honor societies, and the Sedro-Woolley Soroptomist Club. She was manager of the Washington State Building at the 1939 New York World's Fair.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Emma Abbott Ridgway" (PDF). Women in the Legislature. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "Emma Abbott Ridgway". Washington Legacymakers. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "State of Washington: Members of the Legislature 1889-2019" (PDF). Washington Legislative Information Center. Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate; Bernard C. Dean, Chief Clerk House of Representatives. February 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2022.

Further reading edit

  • “Republicans Win All County Offices, County GOP Victory Biggest Since 1930,” The Courier-Times (Sedro-Woolley), November 7, 1946
  • “Emma Ridgway Loses; Sharpe Wins by 5 Votes,” The Courier-Times (Sedro-Woolley), November 15, 1956
  • “State Aide Quits over G.O.P. Policy,” The Seattle Times, August 23, 1965
  • Obituaries, Emma Abbott Ridgway,” Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, May 6, 1981
  • Bourasaw, Noel V., “Dream Theatre, Abbott Motor Co., Dad Abbott family, Emma and Hugh Ridgway,” Skagit River Journal, 2004