Gracie Pfost

Infobox_Congressman
name=Gracie Pfost


state=Idaho
district=1st
term_start = January 3, 1953
term_end = January 3, 1963
preceded=John Travers Wood
succeeded=Compton I. White, Jr.
date of birth=March 12, 1906
place of birth=Harrison, Arkansas
dead = dead
date of death=death date and age|1965|8|11|1906|3|12
place of death=Baltimore, Maryland
residence=Nampa
spouse=
profession=Real estate
religion=Methodist
party=Democratic|

Gracie Bowers Pfost (March 12, 1906 in Harrison, Arkansas – 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.

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 narrowly defeated by the appointed Republican incumbent, former Governor Len Jordan 51%-49%.

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 Idaho.

External links

* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000287 Entry in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary]