Valeria Juan Ogden (née Munson; February 9, 1924 – April 9, 2014)[1] was an American politician, management consultant, and educator.[2]

Val Ogden
Speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1999 – January 13, 2003
Serving with John Pennington (1999–2002)
Preceded byJohn Pennington
Succeeded byJohn Lovick
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 49th district
In office
January 14, 1991 – January 13, 2003
Preceded byBusse Nutley
Succeeded byJim Moeller
Personal details
Born
Valeria Juan Munson

(1924-02-09)February 9, 1924
Okanogan, Washington, U.S.
DiedApril 9, 2014(2014-04-09) (aged 90)
Vancouver, Washington
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materWashington State University (BA)

Biography edit

Born in Okanogan, Washington, Ogden received her bachelor's degree in sociology from Washington State University.[3] She worked as a non-profit management consultant and adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark College and Portland State University. Ogden served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1991 until 2003 as a Democrat and served as Speaker Pro Tempore.[4] She served six terms as State Representative.[4] Ogden died of cancer in 2014.[5][6]

She married Dan Ogden in 1946. They met while attending Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. The couple had three children, Jan, Patti, and Dan.[1]

During her 12 years as State Representative, Ogden fought for state-run schools for the blind and deaf.[3] Ogden pushed to improve standards of students learning braille and instructors teaching braille at the Washington State School for the Blind.[1] Proud graduates of Washington State University, Val and Dan helped to bring the branch campus to Vancouver.[7] The Washington State University Vancouver campus was established in 1989.[8] The entire Ogden family is deeply rooted in Washington State University; Val, Dan, two of their children, and two of their grandchildren have received degrees.[3]

She served as executive director of YWCA Clark County from 1985 to 1989.[9][1] While serving as State Representative, she directed $300,000 of funds for the YWCA's capital campaign.[9]

She was involved in the non-profit Camp Fire USA, doing national consulting for Camp Fire Girls.[10] Ogden was an expert in non-profits and was often consulted for help when Camp Fire and other agencies needed help.[1]

Ogden was active with several civic groups, including the Council on the Homeless, Human Services Council, the Clark County Mental Health Board, and Southwest Washington Center for the Arts.[4][7]

Honors and awards edit

In 2006, she received Clark County's First Citizen award.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Vorenberg, Sue (2014-04-26). "Val Ogden's work, spirit remembered". The Columbian. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  2. ^ "Valeria "Val" Ogden Obituary (2014)". The Columbian. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  3. ^ a b c Apalategui, Eric (2013-04-25). "Dan '44 and Val '46 Ogden—Staying activist in older age". Washington State Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  4. ^ a b c "Val Ogden". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  5. ^ "Val Ogden biography" (PDF). Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  6. ^ a b Dake, Lauren (2014-04-09). "Former First Citizen Val Ogden dies". The Columbian. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  7. ^ a b Vorenberg, Sue (2012-11-09). "WSU Vancouver honors Dan and Val Ogden". The Columbian. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  8. ^ "About WSU Vancouver". WSU Vancouver. 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  9. ^ a b "2014 Community Report" (PDF). YWCA Clark County. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  10. ^ Vogt, Tom (2015-11-08). "First Citizens: Pillars of our community". The Columbian. Retrieved 2019-02-22.