Jane Dee Hull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Hull
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Hull in 2019
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| 20th Governor of Arizona | |
| In office September 5, 1997 – January 6, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Fife Symington |
| Succeeded by | Janet Napolitano |
| 16th Secretary of State of Arizona | |
| In office January 2, 1995 – September 5, 1997 |
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| Governor | Fife Symington |
| Preceded by | Richard Mahoney |
| Succeeded by | Betsey Bayless |
| 36th Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives | |
| In office January 2, 1989 – July 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Lane |
| Succeeded by | Mark Killian |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 18th district |
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| In office January 1, 1983 – October 4, 1993 Serving with Burton S. Barr, George E. Weisz, Susan Gerard
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| Preceded by | Pete Dunn |
| Succeeded by | Barry Wong |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 19th district |
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| In office January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 Serving with W. A. "Tony" West Jr.
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| Preceded by | Stan Akers |
| Succeeded by | Jan Brewer Nancy Wessel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jane Dee Bowersock
August 8, 1935 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 2020 (aged 84) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Terry Hull
(m. 1954; died 2020) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Kansas (BA) Arizona State University, Tempe (JD) |
Jane Dee Hull (born Bowersock; August 8, 1935 – April 16, 2020) was an American politician and teacher. She made history in 1997 when she became the 20th Governor of Arizona. This happened after the previous governor, Fife Symington, resigned.
Hull was the first woman to be formally elected as Governor of Arizona. She was also the second woman to serve in that important role, after Rose Mofford. She was a member of the Republican Party.
Jane Hull was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She earned a degree in education from the University of Kansas. She worked as an elementary school teacher. In 1962, she moved to Arizona with her husband, Terry. He was a doctor, and they lived on the Navajo Nation for a while. Jane raised their four children and taught English. In 1964, her family moved to Phoenix. Ten years later, she began her political journey. She joined Republican women's groups and volunteered for political campaigns.
In 1978, Hull was elected to her first political job. She became a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. During her time there, she rose to become the House Majority Whip and then the Speaker of the House. In 1994, she was elected Secretary of State of Arizona. She was the first Republican to hold that job in over 60 years. After becoming governor in 1997, she was elected to a full term in 1998. She won by a large amount against Paul Johnson. Jane Hull could not run for governor again in 2002 because of state rules. She then retired from public service.
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Early Life and Political Start
Jane Dee Bowersock was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her father was an editor for a newspaper. Jane studied education at the University of Kansas. She taught elementary school in Kansas. In 1962, she moved to Arizona. She first lived on the Navajo Nation and later moved to Phoenix.
After hearing a speech by Barry Goldwater, she became interested in politics. She helped with his presidential campaign in 1964. This was her first step into the world of politics.
Serving in the Legislature
Hull started her political career in 1978. She was elected as a Republican to the Arizona House of Representatives. She served for seven terms, which is a long time! She even became the Speaker of the House twice. She was the first woman in Arizona's history to hold this powerful position.
While she was Speaker in 1991, the Arizona legislature faced a big problem. It was called the AZSCAM scandal. Because of this, several members of the House and Senate had to leave their jobs. To fix this, Speaker Hull put new rules in place. These rules helped to make sure people trusted the government again.
Jane Hull was known as a balanced politician. She was considered a centrist or moderate Republican. This means she often found middle ground on issues. She was also seen as careful with money and had moderate views on social topics.
Becoming Governor of Arizona
First Term (1997–1999)
In 1994, Jane Hull was elected as Arizona's Secretary of State. This job is important because if the governor cannot serve, the Secretary of State takes over. When Governor Fife Symington had to leave office, Jane Hull became governor on September 5, 1997. She was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. This was a special moment for Arizona.
1998 Election for Governor
In 1998, Jane Hull ran for governor and won! This election was very special for the United States. For the first time ever, all five of the top elected jobs in one state were held by women. These women were Governor Hull, Betsey Bayless (Secretary of State), Janet Napolitano (Attorney General), Carol Springer (Treasurer), and Lisa Graham Keegan (Superintendent of Public Instruction). It was a historic moment for women in leadership!
Second Term (1999–2003)
During her time as governor, Hull signed a bill that led to a problem known as the "alt-fuels" issue in 2000. This law offered big discounts on new cars if they were changed to run on special fuels like propane. However, the program did not have clear limits. It ended up costing Arizona a lot more money than planned, about $200 million. Lawmakers quickly changed the rules to fix the problem.
After Being Governor
Jane Hull could not run for governor again in 2002. This was because Arizona's rules limit how many terms a governor can serve. After leaving office, she spent three months working for the United States at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
An elementary school in Chandler is named after Jane Hull. This honors her service to the state.
Personal Life
Jane Bowersock married Terry Hull in 1954. Terry was a doctor who specialized in delivering babies. They had four children together. Jane Hull passed away on April 16, 2020, at 84 years old. Her husband, Terry, also passed away on the very same day.
Legacy
At the end of her time as governor in 2002, Jane Hull said, “I just hope people remember me as a straight shooter.” This means she hoped people would see her as honest and direct.
See also
- List of female governors in the United States
- List of female secretaries of state in the United States
- List of female speakers of legislatures in the United States
