Lynn A. Westmoreland: “Harriett Woods, a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, politician, author and community activist, passed away at her home…”

“Harriett Woods, a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, politician, author and community activist, passed away at her home in University City, Missouri, this February of leukemia. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she went on to attend the University of Michigan. It was there that she became the first female editor of the school's highly esteemed student newspaper. In later years, her career and political life proved to be an uphill battle against more popular-known male politicians. Her political career began as a stay-at-home mom. She went to the city council with a complaint about a noisy manhole cover. When they ignored her, she pushed forward launching a successful petition to have the street closed. Causing the attention of the local press, she earned a job to run a community public affairs panel. Soon after, she was elected to the University City Council where she served for 8 years. She followed that up with two terms in the Missouri State Senate. Harriett Woods ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1982, but her name became well known throughout the State. It helped her 2 years later to become the first female elected to statewide office in Missouri when she held the office of Lieutenant Governor. It was a post she held until 1989. She remained active in politics and her local community throughout the rest of her life, focusing primarily on women's issues.”