Harriett Woods, Missouri's first woman lieutenant governor, dies at 79

ST. LOUIS -- Former Lt. Gov. Harriett Woods, an activist Democrat who championed other women politicians after becoming the first elected to statewide office in Missouri, has died of leukemia. She was 79.

Woods died Thursday night, surrounded by her family, son Andrew Woods said Friday.

She had been diagnosed with leukemia last March, her son said.

"She will be remembered most as a loving mother and grandmother, but we are also incredibly proud of her life devoted to public service and her passionate and determined efforts to aid society's most vulnerable -- the elderly, minorities and the homeless, to obtain equal opportunities for women, and mentor future generations of leaders," the family said in a statement.

Woods became Missouri's lieutenant governor in 1984 and served one term as the state's No. 2 executive. Before that, she served eight years in the state Senate, two years on a state transportation commission and eight years on the University City Council.

She also made two unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate in 1982 and 1986.

Andrew Woods said his mother maintained a keen interest in politics, especially in women in politics. He said she was especially pleased when Democrat Claire McCaskill in November became Missouri's first elected woman senator.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Woods graduated from the University of Michigan. Before going into politics, she worked for years as a newspaper reporter, then as a moderator and public affairs director for KPLR-TV in St. Louis.

Woods was preceded in death by her husband, James B. Woods, a retired newspaper editor who died in 2002. She is survived by three sons and nine grandchildren.