Georgia Neese Clark
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Georgia Neese Clark Gray (January 27, 1900, Richland, Kansas - October 26, 1995[1]) was the first woman Treasurer of the United States, serving from 1949 to 1953.
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[edit] Early life
Gray was born in Richland, Kansas and attended school in Topeka, Kansas. She graduated from Washburn University in 1921 and was a member of Alpha Phi.
[edit] Acting Career
During college, Gray developed an interest in acting and after graduation attended the Franklin Sargent School of Dramatic Art and eventually acted with various stock companies. Gray pursured an acting career from 1921 to 1931, living in New York City, getting to know Helen Hayes and Charlie Chaplin, touring the country and earning $500 a week. When the Depression and the onset of "talkies," motion pictures with sound, cut short her stage career, she returned home to her native Richland, Kansas.
[edit] Family Business
Gray started working at her father's Richland State Bank as an assistant cashier in 1935. At the death of her father, Albert Neese, in 1937, she inherited control and the presidency of Richland State Bank, as well as the family's general store, grain elecator, lumber yard, insurance agency, many farms and other real estate.
[edit] Political Background
Gray was active in the state Democratic Party and was elected Democratic National Committee member from Kansas in 1936, a position she held until 1964. She was an articulate and well-liked representative of the party and an early supporter of Harry Truman. It was this support that brought about her nomination as the first woman to be Treasurer of the United States from 1949-1953.
[edit] Later Years
Gray died October 26, 1995 and is interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Richland, Kansas.
The Georgia Neese Gray Performance Hall at the Topeka Performing Arts Center is named after her.
The Georgia Neese Gray award is reserved for presentation to Kansans who have served in elected office at the municipal and/or county level and who have performed outstanding service to their local community in the pursuit of the principles of the Kansas Democratic Party. Such service commends a lengthy and broad participation in public service endeavors to the city, county and state. This award shall be considered the highest honor which can be bestowed by the Kansas Democratic Party to its municipal and county elected officials.
