Martha Layne Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Layne Collins
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Collins in the early 1980s
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| 56th Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office December 13, 1983 – December 8, 1987 |
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| Lieutenant | Steve Beshear |
| Preceded by | John Y. Brown Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Wallace Wilkinson |
| 48th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office December 11, 1979 – December 13, 1983 |
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| Governor | John Y. Brown Jr. |
| Preceded by | Thelma Stovall |
| Succeeded by | Steve Beshear |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Martha Layne Hall
December 7, 1936 Bagdad, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Bill Collins
(m. 1959) |
| Education | Lindenwood University University of Kentucky (BS) |
Martha Layne Collins (born December 7, 1936) is an American politician and businesswoman from Kentucky. She made history as the state's 56th governor, serving from 1983 to 1987. She was the first woman to be elected governor of Kentucky and remains the only one to have held the office.
Before becoming governor, Collins was the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Her election as governor made her the highest-ranking Democratic woman in the United States at the time. She was even considered as a possible running mate for presidential candidate Walter Mondale in 1984.
As governor, Collins focused on two main goals: improving education and growing the state's economy. One of her biggest achievements was convincing the car company Toyota to build a large factory in Georgetown, Kentucky. This brought many jobs and businesses to the state.
After her term as governor, Collins worked in education, serving as the president of Saint Catharine College. She has continued to be an important figure in Kentucky, promoting business and international relations.
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Early Life and Education
Martha Layne Hall was born on December 7, 1936, in Bagdad, Kentucky. When she was in the sixth grade, her family moved to Shelbyville, Kentucky. Her parents were active in local politics, and Martha often helped them with campaigns for Democratic candidates.
In high school, she was a good student and a cheerleader. After graduating, she attended Lindenwood University for a year before transferring to the University of Kentucky. There, she was active in many clubs and earned a degree in Home Economics in 1959.
That same year, she married Bill Collins. While he studied dentistry, Martha worked as a school teacher in Louisville. The couple had two children, Steve and Marla. Later, they moved to Versailles, Kentucky, where she continued to teach.
Start in Politics
Collins became more involved in politics through community groups. In 1971, she helped run Wendell Ford's successful campaign for governor. Her skill at organizing people got her noticed by leaders in the Democratic Party.
She soon left teaching to work full-time for the party. In 1975, she ran for Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and won. During her time as clerk, the state's court system was reorganized. The Court of Appeals became the Kentucky Supreme Court, and Collins became its first clerk. She worked to help people understand the court's new role.
In 1979, Collins was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, serving with Governor John Y. Brown Jr.. Governor Brown often traveled outside the state, which meant Collins served as acting governor for over 500 days during her four-year term. This experience prepared her for her next step.
Becoming Governor of Kentucky
In 1983, Collins decided to run for governor. She won a close Democratic primary election against two other candidates.
In the general election, she faced Republican state senator Jim Bunning, a famous former baseball pitcher. Some national women's groups did not support Collins because of her views on certain issues. However, she ran a strong campaign and connected well with voters.
Collins won the election with 561,674 votes to Bunning's 454,650. She became the first and only woman ever elected governor of Kentucky.
A Governor Focused on Progress
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As governor, Collins had two main priorities: education and economic development. She believed that improving schools and creating jobs would build a better future for Kentucky.
Improving Kentucky's Schools
In her first year, Collins asked the state legislature for more money for education. She wanted to raise taxes to pay for new programs, but lawmakers did not agree.
Not giving up, Collins launched a statewide campaign to build public support for her education plans. In 1985, she called a special meeting of the legislature. This time, they approved her plan. It included:
- A pay raise for teachers.
- Smaller class sizes.
- Funding for new school buildings.
- Aides for every kindergarten teacher.
The new programs were paid for by increasing the corporate licensing tax, a tax on businesses.
Bringing Toyota to Kentucky
Collins's most famous achievement was bringing a Toyota car factory to Georgetown. In 1985, she traveled to Japan on a trade mission to convince the company to choose Kentucky.
To seal the deal, the state offered Toyota $125 million in incentives. This included buying the land for the factory and providing money for worker training and new roads. Some people worried that the deal was too expensive and might not be constitutional.
The issue went to the Kentucky Supreme Court, which ruled that the plan was legal because it served a public purpose by creating jobs. The Toyota plant brought thousands of jobs to Kentucky and attracted many other car-related businesses to the state. Under Collins's leadership, Kentucky's economy grew, and the unemployment rate fell.
Consideration for Vice President
After being elected governor, Collins was the highest-ranking Democratic woman in the country. In 1984, she was chosen to lead the 1984 Democratic National Convention.
That same year, presidential candidate Walter Mondale interviewed her as a possible choice for his vice-presidential running mate. He eventually chose Geraldine Ferraro, but the consideration showed Collins's national importance.
Life After Being Governor
At the time, Kentucky governors could not serve two terms in a row. After leaving office in 1987, Collins began a new career in education. She taught at the University of Louisville and Harvard University.
From 1990 to 1996, she was the president of Saint Catharine College near Springfield, Kentucky. She was the first president of the small Catholic college who was not a nun.
In the early 1990s, her husband, Dr. Bill Collins, faced legal problems that received a lot of media attention. This difficult time damaged Collins's hopes for returning to politics.
Collins later worked at the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College. In 1999, she was named Honorary Consul General of Japan in Kentucky. In this role, she helps promote friendship and business between Japan and Kentucky.
Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Martha Layne Collins has received many awards.
- In 1999, she received the first Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award, created to honor women who inspire others.
- In 2003, the Bluegrass Parkway in Kentucky was renamed the Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway.
- In 2009, the government of Japan awarded her the Order of the Rising Sun for strengthening ties between Japan and the United States.
- In 2010, Martha Layne Collins High School opened in Shelby County, named in her honor.
See also
In Spanish: Martha Layne Collins para niños
- List of female governors in the United States
- List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
- Kentucky Colonel
