May, Catherine Dean (1914–2004)

American politician. Name variations: Catherine Dean Bedell. Born Catherine Dean Barnes on May 18, 1914, in Yakima, WA; died June 4, 2004, in Rancho Mirage, CA; dau. of Charles Henry Barnes and Pauline (Van Loon) Barnes (both real estate brokers); graduated from Yakima Valley Junior College, 1934; University of Washington, Seattle, BA, 1936, MEdn, 1937; studied speech at University of Southern California, 1939; m. John O. May, Jan 1943 (div.); m. Donald W. Bedell, Nov 14, 1970; children: (1st m.) James C. May; Melinda E. May.

Six-term Republican member of US House of Representatives, became a writer and assistant commentator for NBC in New York City (1944); ran successfully as a Republican candidate for Washington state legislature (1952), in which position she served until 1958; won the seat for the 4th district (1958), the 1st woman from Washington state elected to the US House; served on Committee on the District of Columbia, Committee on Atomic Energy, and Committee on Agriculture, where she quickly gained a reputation as an advocate of the protection and improvement of farm incomes; co-sponsored joint resolutions to create a US World Food Study and Coordinating Commission and a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct (1967); voted against the party majority on numerous occasions; appointed to US International Trade Commission by President Richard Nixon (1971), serving in that capacity until 1981; named a Special Consultant to the president on the 50 States Project by Ronald Reagan (1982).

See also Women in World History.