Mary Ellen Withrow's story
Mary Ellen Withrow made history in 1969 as the first woman elected to the Elgin Local School Board of Education in Elgin, Ohio. She went on to become Treasurer of the United States and is the first person to hold the office of treasurer at the local, state, and national levels. Withrow holds a unique record: her signature appears on the most currency in U.S. history, totaling $1.1 trillion.
Withrow was born Mary Ellen Hinamon on October 2, 1930 in Marion County, Ohio. She attended Marion Harding High School, graduated in 1948, and married Norman Withrow several months later. They went on to raise four daughters together. Withrow became active in her community during this time, leading the Red Cross' swimming safety programs beginning in 1956. Withrow also served as President of the Women’s Artisans Guild and later became President of Mothers of OSU Students.
Interested in politics from a young age, Withrow began attending township meetings as well as meetings of the Elgin Local School Board of Education during this period. In 1969 she was recruited by two teachers to run for an open seat on the board. Campaigning with the theme “There Should Be a Woman on the School Board,” Withrow won and became School Board President three years later. She also served as Deputy Registrar and Deputy Auditor for Marion County.
Withrow lost only one election over the course of her career – the 1972 race for Marion County Clerk of Courts. Undaunted, Withrow ran for Marion County Treasurer in 1976, won, and secured reelection in 1980. During her second term as Marion County Treasurer, Withrow ran for Treasurer of the State of Ohio. The only woman in a seven-way Democratic primary, Withrow secured the nomination and was the only woman on the statewide Democratic ticket in 1982. She won and was reelected twice as Ohio Treasurer.
Withrow was nominated to be Treasurer of the United States by President Bill Clinton and was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in February 1994. She served as United States Treasurer until January 20, 2001.
Cincinnati Technical College awarded Withrow an honorary doctorate in 1993. In 1987 she was the recipient of a Women Executives in State Government fellowship to Harvard University. Withrow served as President of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers; President of the National Association of State Treasurers; and was an Executive Committee member of the Democratic National Committee.
Among her many awards, Withrow has been inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and was named Most Valuable State Public Official by City & State magazine. She has received the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award, the Women Who Make a Difference Award from the International Women’s Forum, and the Donald L. Scantlebury Memorial Award for Distinguished Leadership in Financial Management Improvement, awarded by the federal Joint Financial Management Improvement Program.
In 2021 Withrow celebrated the appointment of Janet Yellen as the first woman Secretary of the Treasury by writing a guest column in the Marion Star.
The Team Behind Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics
Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics is a collaboration between WBGU-PBS and Dr. Melissa K. Miller, Professor of Political Science at Bowling Green State University. Narrative profile compiled and written by Max Schubert and Melissa K. Miller.
Sound Bites
Can a woman open a vault?
Mocked by her opponent for a winning recipe
The fury of “Mrs. Norman Withrow”
Should there be a woman on the school board?
1972
CLERK OF COURTS
MARION COUNTY
Primary Election
Margaret Howser - 56.4%
Mary Ellen Withrow - 43.6%
General Election
Margaret Howser (R) - 55.6%
Mary Ellen Withrow (D) - 44.4%
1976
COUNTY TREASURER
MARION COUNTY
Primary Election
Mary Ellen Withrow – 100.0%
General Election
Francis Roush (R) - 37.5%
Mary Ellen Withrow (D) - 62.5%
1982
OHIO TREASURER
Democratic Primary
Kenneth R. Cox - 18.3%
Lee C. Falke - 10.7%
Michael P. Kelly - 15.6%
Timothy G. Lemire - 4.2%
James R. Williams - 19.9%
Mary Ellen Withrow - 20.3%
Richard L. Wittenberg - 10.9%
General Election
Thomas V. Brown (Libertarian) - 6.1%
Dana G. Rinehart (R) - 45.8%
Mary Ellen Withrow (D) - 48.1%
1986
OHIO TREASURER
Democratic Primary
Bryan E. Icard - 17.4%
Mary Ellen Withrow - 82.6%
General Election
Jeff Jacobs (R) - 45.1%
Mary Ellen Withrow (D) - 54.9%
1990
OHIO TREASURER
Democratic Primary
Mary Ellen Withrow - 100.0%
General Election
Judith Y. Brachman (R) - 40.5%
Mary Ellen Withrow (D) - 59.5%
In her own voice
Withrow’s complete interview is archived in the Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics Oral History Collection at Bowling Green State University’s Center for Archival Collections.
Journaling prompts for 7th through 12th graders
PDF Instructor Guides for high school and college educators also available
When Mary Ellen Withrow ran for Marion County Treasurer in the 1970s, her detractors said she wouldn’t be able to take care of her children or open the treasurer’s vault. Would such attacks be effective against women in politics, business, or the arts today? Explain why or why not.
Mary Ellen Withrow was furious when the local newspaper wouldn’t use her name. They required she be called “Mrs. Norman Withrow.” Write about some ways women candidates are treated differently than men in politics or another sector of American society that interests you.
In 1982 Mary Ellen Withrow was mocked by her male opponent for passing out recipes on the campaign trail for State Treasurer, yet she continued to use this strategy. What kinds of things have you been mocked about? How did you respond?
Instructor Guide for:
PHOTO CREDITS: Ohio History Connection (SA7493 B01 01, SA7493 B01 58037A, SA7493 B02 58037B, SA7493 B03F05 01, SA7493 B03F07 01, SA7493 B03F07 03); USA TODAY NETWORK.
Updated: 07/06/2023 03:46PM