Elly M. Peterson

Elly Peterson
Elly Peterson
Chair of the William McLaughlin
Personal details
Born	Ella Maude McMillan; June 5, 1914; New Berlin, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 9, 2008 (aged 94); Grand Junction, Colorado,; U.S.
Political party	Republican (Before 1980); Independent (1980–2008)
Education	William Woods University; Northwestern University; South Suburban College

Elly M. Peterson (June 5, 1914 – June 9, 2008), was an American politician from Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan.

Peterson was an overseas

Congregational Church, American Legion Auxiliary, a lifetime member of the NAACP

.

Early life

On June 5, 1914, Peterson was born as Ella Maude McMillan in New Berlin, Illinois.^[1]

Education

Peterson graduated from what became William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri.^[2]

Career

Peterson was vice chairwoman of the

U.S. Senator from Michigan in 1964. Asked to run by Governor George W. Romney, Peterson would later comment that she picked up the gauntlet and ran for the Senate because no one else would run against the popular incumbent, Philip Hart, particularly in a year with her party divided over its presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater

. Winning just 35.3 percent of the vote, she nevertheless bettered Goldwater's tally in Michigan—33.1 percent—and did so with little funds; to accomplish that much was a tribute to her energy, organization and down-to-earth appeal.

In 1965, Peterson became the first woman to serve as chair of the Michigan Republican Party. In 1965, Peterson was also the first woman in U.S. history to chair a Republican state central committee, until 1969.[1]^[2] The Michigan Political History Society eventually selected Elly Peterson as the best Republican state chairwoman in the last fifty years. She was assistant to the chair of the Republican National Committee from 1969 to 1971.

In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Peterson's name and picture.^[3]

Eventually, Peterson became an Independent.

Political positions

She worked to elect Romney as governor and his

secretary of Housing and Urban Development

in 1969.

At the Republican National Committee, Peterson was a strong advocate for outreach, empowerment, fence-mending and organization. She continued the practices that had made her effective as chairwoman of the

Lyndon Johnson

.

An egalitarian by philosophy and example, Peterson was a national co-chairwoman of ERAmerica, a private national campaign organization, during the fight to get the

James Blanchard

, the Democrat running for governor of Michigan, rather than the conservative Republican.

Awards

1984 Michigan Women's Hall of Fame^[2]

Personal life

In 1935, Peterson married William M. Peterson. Peterson joined the American Red Cross and spent 22 months in England, France and Germany. After World War II, Peterson and her family moved to Charlotte, Michigan. They have no children.^[2]

In 1994, Peterson's husband died.^[2]

On June 9, 2008, Peterson died in Grand Junction, Colorado. ^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "Elly M. Peterson". miwf.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sullivan, Patricia (June 11, 2008). "Elly M. Peterson, 94; Republican Urged Moderate Direction for Party". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ Wulf, Steve (2015-03-23). "Supersisters: Original Roster". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Charles Potter	Class 1) 1964	Succeeded by Lenore Romney
Preceded by Arthur Elliott	Chair of the Michigan Republican Party 1965–1969	Succeeded by William McLaughlin

[miwf_peterson-1] "Elly M. Peterson". miwf.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[washingtonpost_peterson-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sullivan, Patricia (June 11, 2008). "Elly M. Peterson, 94; Republican Urged Moderate Direction for Party". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[3] Wulf, Steve (2015-03-23). "Supersisters: Original Roster". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.

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