Gracie Pfost

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Gracie Pfost

Gracie Bowers Pfost (born March 12, 1906 in Harrison, Arkansas – died August 11, 1965 in Baltimore, Maryland) was the first woman to represent Idaho in the United States Congress, serving five terms as a Democrat in the House of Representatives. Pfost represented the state's First Congressional District.

[edit] Biography

Pfost moved with her parents to a farm near Boise, Idaho, in 1911. She graduated from Link's Business University in Boise in 1929.

After graduation, Pfost took up work as a chemist for a milk company. She entered politics in Canyon County and held several positions in county government between 1929 and 1951, including deputy county clerk, auditor, recorder of deeds and county treasurer. She also served as an Idaho delegate to all Democratic National Conventions between 1944 and 1960.

In 1950 Pfost ran for Congress but lost to Republican John Travers Wood. In 1952 she ran again, defeating former Congressman Compton I. White, Sr. in the Democratic primary and Wood in the general election. Pfost was reelected in 1954, 1956, 1958 and 1960.

In 1962, Pfost was the Democratic nominee in a special Senate election to replace the late Henry Dworshak, but was defeated by the appointed Republican incumbent, former Governor Len Jordan.

After leaving the House in 1963, Pfost worked in the Federal Housing Administration as a special assistant on housing for the elderly, until her death at Johns Hopkins Hospital two years later the age of 59.

Pfost is buried in Meridian.

[edit] External links

Entry in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary

Preceded by John Travers Wood	United States House of Representatives, Idaho First Congressional District January 5, 1953–January 3, 1963	Succeeded by Compton I. White, Jr.
Preceded by R. F. Bob McLaughlin	Democratic Party nominee, U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Idaho 1962 special (lost)	Succeeded by Ralph R. Harding